. 


. 


PIONEERS  OF  THE  NEOORLD 


AND  THE 


OLD    FRENCH    WAR 


WITH   AN    ACCOUNT   OF    VARIOUS    INTERESTING    CON- 
TEMPORANEOUS  EVENTS    WHICH   OCCURRED 
IN    THE   EARLY   SETTLEMENT 
OF  AMERICA, 


BY 

JOSEPH  BANVARD,  D.D. 


BOSTON: 
D.     LOTHROP   AND    COMPANY. 

FRANKLIN   ST.,  CORNER  OF  HAWLEY. 


COPYRIGHT   BY 

D.     LOTHROP    &    CO. 


PRESS  OF  ROCKWELL  AND  CHURCHILL, 
39  Arch  St.,  Boston. 


Bancroft  Library 


PREFACE. 


THE  discovery  of  the  New  "World  by  Chris- 
topher Columbus,  and  the  glowing  description 
which  was  given  of  it  by  Americus  Vespucius, 
aroused  the  governments  of  Europe  to  a  per- 
ception of  the  importance  of  forming  settle- 
ments in  these  new  domains,  and  thus,  by  vir- 
tue of  the  right  of  discovery,  or  when  this  could 
not  be  urged,  then  by  priority  of  possession,  ob- 
taining a  title  to  some  portions  of  its  vast  ter- 
ritory, which  they  might  ever  after  hold  as 
colonial  dependencies.  Accordingly,  towns  were 
built  along  its  coast,  and  forts  erected  in  the  in- 
terior by  subjects  of  different  nations.  As  time 
rolled  on,  and  enterprising  pioneers  pushed  their 
explorations  further  from  the  original  settle- 


Vlll  P  R  E  F  AC  E  . 

ments,  they  came  in  contact  with  each  other. 

Then  arose  mutual  accusations  of  trespassing 
\ 

beyond  authorized  limits.  Collisions  and  wars 
were  the  consequence,  until,  after  the  expendi- 
ture of  much  treasure  and  blood,  the  Dutch  and 
the  French  were  subdued,  and  nearly  the  whole 
of  North  America  came  into  the  possession  of 
the  English. 

After  this,  the  British  Parliament,  by  a  se- 
ries of  indiscreet  and  oppressive  acts,  greatly 
irritated  the  colonies,  and  effectually  alienated 
them  from  the  mother  country.  The  develop- 
ment of  these  facts,  with  an  account  of  other 
cotemporaneous  events  of  an  interesting  char- 
acter in.  the  history  of  our  country,  and  espe- 
cially in  connection  with  Maryland,  is  the  object 
of  the  present  volume. 


Kisl  ttf 


L  FRONTISPIECE 

IL  ILLUSTRATED  TITLE  PAGE 

IIL  DOG  HUNTING  A  STAG 86 

IV.  ENCAMPING  FOR  THE  WINTER 95 

V.  INDIAN  AMBUSH 150 

VL  HENDRICK  AND  THE  STICKS 166 

VIL  LANDING  AT  LOUISBURG 182 

Vin.  SEARCHING  FOR  THE  DEAD 212 

IX.  THE  INDIAN  WARRIOR 217 

X.  ASCENDING  THE  HEIGHTS  OF  ABRAHAM 226 

XL  HOOD  BIDING  IN  EFFIGY ..285 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

PAQl 

Painful  Discovery— Religious  Dissensions— Persecutions  overruled— 
The  Baron  of  Baltimore— An  impracticable  Measure— The  Three 
Calverts— An  Error— The  "Ark"  and  "The  Dove"— The  Arrival  at 
the  New  World— The  Jesuit's  Narrative— Pirates  and  Perils— In- 
trepid  Captain— Violent  Storm— Lights  at  Masthead— "The  Dove" 
disappears— Perils  and  Prayers— Insurrection— Fears  allayed— Boat 
Upset— Interview  with  the  Natives— Their  singular  Opinions— An 
adopted  Indian— A  discreet  Answer— English  Policy— A  Trealy ....  19 


CHAPTER   II. 

A  fevorable  Circumstance— First  Buildings  erected— An  Indian  hon- 
ored—Honor Misunderstood— A  Gala-day— Imposing  Ceremonies — 
Whites  and  Indians  living  together— Nature  of  the  Soil— Prepared 
for  Planting— Clayborne's  Conduct— He  is  frustrated— He  is  conquer- 
ed and  sent  to  England— His  Deception  there— His  Trial  and  Ita 
Results— Clayborne  and  Ingle— Governor  Calvert  flees— Disorder 
prevails— Records  lost— Session  of  the  Assembly— Governor  Hill— 
Peculiarities...  .  W 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   III. 

PAQl 

Colonists  to  scatter— Foresight  of  Lord  Baltimore— Conditions  of  Land- 
grants— Special  Instructions— Courts  Baron  and  Courts  Leet— Their 
Uses— Eemnant  of  the  Feudal  Ages— Manors  of  Lands— Important 
Feature— Failure  of  the  Aristocratic  Element  a  Cause  of  Thanksgiv- 
ing   60 


CHAPTER   IT. 

Erroneous  Inferences— Religious  Liberty— When  It  is  Defective— Char- 
ter and  Laws  of  Maryland— Conformity  to  the  Ecclesiastical  Laws  of 
England— Union  of  Religion  and  civil  Government— Religious  Tol- 
eration—Reproachful Terms  forbidden— Penalty  for  using  them— 
Liberty  limited— Oppressive  Laws— The  Difference  in  Khode  Island 
—Influence  of  Protestantism— Liberal  Principles 64 


CHAP  TER   Y. 

Law  against  Stealing  One's  self— Arbitrary  Distinction— Influence  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  Priests— Importance  of  little  Knowledge— Pecu- 
liar Law— Curious  Definition  of  Drunkenness— Its  Penalty— Law 
enjoining  Fasting— Laws  respecting  Tobacco  and  Corn— Corn  to  bo 
twice  shaken— Corn  Hand-mills— Water-mill  Tax— Saw-mill  des- 
troyed In  London — Reasons  for  Indian  Fears — Ancient  Feuds  among 
the  Indians— Indian  Opinions— Collision  with  the  Indians— Warlike 
Preparations— The  Maquantequats— The  Patuxent  Indians— They 
are  reconciled  and  protected.. 68 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 


CHAPTER   VI. 

PAGH 

Colonies  multiplied— Captain  Lucas  Fox— His  Voyage  to  the  North- 
ern Eegions— Dangers  from  the  Ice— How  Ice  bergs  are  formed— 
Description  of  a  Sea  Unicorn— Variation  of  the  Needle— Reasons  for 
it— Geological  Discovery— A  White  Bear  floating  upon  Ice— Its  Pur- 
suit and  Capture— Petty  Dancers— Hunting  Swans  and  Seals- 
Graves  Discovered— Dog  hunting  a  Stag— School  of  Whales— A  Dun 
Fox— Kemains  of  Captain  Button's  dwellings— Going  a  Berrying— 
A  Cross  found— Seeking  a  Main  yard— The  Maria  met  with— Cap- 
tain Fox  names  various  Places— Fox's  Return 11 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Captain  James  sails  for  the  North— His  trying  Position— He  Is  Frozen 
in— James's  Ignorance— Dangers  to  which  it  leads— Encamping  for 
the  Winter— Peculiar  Features  of  a  northern  Winter— The  Scurvy 
—Its  Symptoms— Effects  of  Extreme  Cold— Difficulty  of  Working 
—Thawing  Trees— Medical  Treatment— A  singular  Phenomenon- 
Finding  the  Rudder— Disappointment— Difficulties  multiplied— Sick 
recovering— Homeward  Departure— False  Facts. 91 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

De  Groslle— Information  from  the  Ottowas— Hunters  and  Trappers-* 
De  Vries's  Voyage— Smelling  the  Land— A  Dreadful  Scene— Its  Per- 
petrators  unknown— The  Particulars— Effects  of  Confidence— Indian 
2 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

PAGI 

Treachery  and  Revenge— Peace  concluded— Beans  wanted— Startling 
Intelligence— Boat's  Crew  murdered— A  suspicious  Circumstance — 
Chiefs  Visit — Gifts  given  and  refused — A  Peach-tree  found — Inter- 
view with  lie  English — Seven  Whales  taken — Whaling  unprofit- 
able...   105 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Gustavus  Adolphus— His  Plans  of  Emigration— A  War  defeats  them— 
Deception  of  the  Swedish  Governor— Fort  Casimer  taken  by  Treach- 
ery— Governor  Stuy  vesant  attacks  Delaware — Army  of  Seven  Hun- 
dred— Stuyvesant's  triumphant  Advance — He  conquers  Delaware— 
Eumors  of  a  silver  Mountain— An  Indian  brings  Ore— He  is  assas- 
sinated—The English  conquer  the  Dutch— Children  stolen  by  the 
Savages— Their  Eedemption-price  in  Tobacco— Commercial  Regula- 
tions—The  Famous  Navigation  Act. 120 


CHAPTER   X. 

A  i-emarkable  Fact— Political  Troubles— Seizure  of  Arms  and  Ammu- 
nition—Resisting Authority— The  Governor's  Protest— A  noble 
Resolution— A  Boat  seized— Terrific  Threatenings— A  Council  of 
War— The  "  Golden  Lyon"— A  deceptive  Trick— Stone  fired  upon~ 
A  Battle— The  Victory— The  Prisoners— The  first  Account  sent 
home— Reconciliation  between  Prrotestants  and  Catholics.  .„..„.».  12> 


CONTENTS.  XV 


CHAPTER    XI. 

PAGB 

Peace  and  Prosperity— A  great  Country— Its  Possession  desirable- 
Origin  of  the  French  "War— Chain  of  Forts— Preparation  for  a  Cam- 
paign—Franklin's Patriotism— Braddock's  Arrival— George  "Wash- 
ington becomes  Braddock's  Aid-de-Camp— Washington  sick— A 
Wagon  his  Hospital— March  of  the  Army— A  beautiful  Sight— An 
Invisible,  terrible  Foe— Indian  Ambush  surprises  the  Army— Wash- 
ington's Perils  and  Escapes— The  Killed  and  Wounded— Singular 
Interview  between  Washington  and  an  Indian— The  Indian's  Story 
His  Eeverence  for  Washington 142 


CHAPTER   XII. 

Cavages  offer  their  Services— The  Offer  unwisely  rejected— Washing- 
ton's Fame— Davies's  Allusion  to  him  Prophetic— Thirst  for  Blood— 
The  Moravians  attacked— Dreadful  State  of  Things— A  marvelous 
Escape— Scalp  lost— Great  Panic— Eeward  often  Pounds  for  an  In- 
dian's Scalp 158 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Design  of  the  French— Crown  Point— Johnson  and  the  Indian  Chief 
Hendrlck— Baron  Dieskau— Indian  Mode  of  numbering— Indian 
Battle— An  eloquent  Indian  Chief— Important  military  Principle- 
Effects  of  Delay— Battle  of  Lake  George— Death  of  Baron  Dieskau— 
Retreat  of  the  French— Effect  of  the  Victory— Johnson  highly 
honored— His  selfish  Meanness,.— A  new  Principle 164 


XVI  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   XIY. 

Marquis  de  Montcalm— Forts  at  Oswego— Violent  Midnight  Attack — 
Fort  Ontario  taken— Colonel  Mercer  killed— No  aid  to  be  obtained 
—The  English  capitulate  to  the  French— Terms  of  Capitulation 
shamefully  violated— Montcalm  destroys  the  Forts— Lord  Loudon's 
Expedition— Montcalm's  Barbarity— Munro's  sad  Discovery— The 
English  yield  to  Montcalm— Terms  of  Capitulation— Wilfull  Decep- 
tion—Indignation of  the  Savages— Their  horrid  Cruelties— Effects 
of  the  Fall  of  Fort  William  Henry— The  Massacre  attributed  to 
Uquor. mt  1T4 


CHAPTER   XT. 

Pitt  favors  Liberty— Three  important  Expeditions— Attack  upon 
Louisburg — Landing  in  a  Storm — Brave  Attack  and  Defense — Ameri- 
can Gibraltar — Bombardment — The  City  taken — Great  Joy  In 
England— Soldier's  Wit— Disappointment  in  France— French  com- 
mander degraded — Montcalm  at  Ticonderoga — His  Intrenchments 
— Abercrombie  on  Lake  George— A  Battle  in  the  Woods— Lord 
Howe  slain— Assault  of  Ticonderoga— The  Repulse— English  want 
Cannon— Disheartening  Effects^ 180 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

Activity  of  the  French— Attempt  to  intercept  them— Injudicious 
Sport— A  Skirmish  the  Consequence— Putnam  a  Prisoner  to  the 


CONTENTS. 


Indians—  Is  tied  to  a  Tree  to  be  burned—  His  Thoughts—  His  De- 
liverance —  Colonel  Bradstreet's  Proposition—  The  Expedition  against 
Fort  jFrontinac  —  State  of  Things  at  Oswego  —  Attack  upon  Frontinao 
—Indian  Deserters  —  Frontinac  taken  —  Munitions  of  War  obtained— 
Armed  Vessels  seized—  The  Fort  leveled—  English  encouraged....  198 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

A.  new  Expedition  against  Duquesne — A  new  Eoad  proposed — Wash- 
ington opposes  it— The  Decision— "Washington  requesta.to  be  in  the 
Front  of  the  Army — Grant's  Folly — Unexpected  Attack — Injudicious 
Conduct  of  the  Highlanders — Panic  of  the  Pennsylvanians — Method 
pf  the  Marylanders— Conduct  of  Washington— Grant,  a  Prisoner- 
Council  of  War— Going  into  Winter  Quarters— Loyal  Banning 
Another  Fight— Sad  Mistake— Indian  Policy— Indian  Deserters- 
Provincials  the  best  Soldiers— Fort  Duquesno  taken— Name  altered 
to  Fort  Pitt— Pay  of  the  Soldiers 196 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

Indian  Deputations—An  affecting  Duty— Searching  for  the  Dead— 
A  singular  Incident— Dreadful  Mementoes— Tragic  Scenes— Battle 
of  Niagara— French  Defeated— Surrender  of  the  Garrison— No  Re- 
taliation—Captive  Soldiers  sent  to  Albany— Women  and  Children 
sent  to  Quebec — French  Communication  between  Canada  and  Lou- 
isiana destroyed 

2* 


XV111  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

PAQB 

Bituation  of  Quebec — Its  strong  Defenses — Montcalm's  Army — HIa 
Military  arrangements — A  Fleet  of  Fire-ships — How  they  arc  dis- 
posed of— Batteries  erected— Terrific  Fire-stages— Battle  of  Mont- 
morency — Ill-judged  Assault — The  English  repulsed — The  French  fire 
upon  the  Wounded  and  the  Dead— Their  Apology  for  this  Cruelty- 
General  Wolfe  sick— A  perilous  Project— Wolfe  approves  it— Its 
great  Difficulties— Courageous  Midnight  Adventure— Heights  <rf 
Abraham  gained — Preparations  for  Battle — Position  of  the  two 
Armies— Battle  on  the  Heights— Wolfe's  Death  in  Victory— The 
French  Defeated — Death  of  Montcalm — Quebec  taken  by  the  En- 
glish.  2Jfi 


CHAPTER    XX. 

Oppressive  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament— American  Opposition  to 
them— Famous  Stamp  Act— Its  Design— Its  Effect  in  Maryland— The 
Maryland  Gazette— Treatment  of  Zechariah  Hood— Stamped  Paper 
not  allowed  to  be  landed — A  ridiculous  Ceremony — Hood  whipped 
and  burned  in  Effigy — Popular  Feeling  more  powerful  than  Govern- 
ment—The Times  doleful  and  dollarless— Stamp  Act  repealed. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

Arrival  of  a  New  Governor— Burning  of  Tea— The  Destruction  of  the 
Totness— Xaval  Engagement— Arrival  of  Lord  Howe— Battle  of  Long 
Island— Trenton  Taken— Princeton  Seized — The  Affair  of  Brandywine 
— Battle  of  Gerruantown — Valley  Forge — Savannah  Attacked— Battle 
of  Camden— Cowpeus— Eutaw  Springs 240 


TRAGIC       SCENES, 


CHAPTER   I. 

Painful  Discovery — Religious  Dissensions — Persecutions  Over-ruled — The 
Baron  of  Baltimore — An  Impracticable  Measure — The  Three  Calvorts— 
An  Error—"  The  Ark"  and  "  The  Dove"— Arrival  at  the  New  World- 
Jesuit's  Narrative — Pirates  and  Perils— Intrepid  Captain — Violent  Storin 
— Lights  at  Mast-head — "  The  Dove"  disappears — Perils  and  Prayers — 
Insurrection — Fears  allayed — Boat  Upset — Interview  with  Natives—- 
Their singular  Opinions— An  adopted  Indian— A  discreet  Answer- 
English  Policy— A  Treaty. 

THE  first  explorers  and  settlers  of  this  country 
experienced  difficulties,  and  passed  through  perils, 
which  are  not  easy  for  us,  in  our  circumstances  of 
safety,  fully  to  appreciate.  In  a  new  world ;  with 
a  climate  to  which  they  were  unaccustomed ;  sur- 
rounded by  barbarous  tribes;  without  dwellings, 
and  with  no  lands  prepared  for  cultivation,  they 
were,  at  times,  placed  in  circumstances  of  extreme 
perplexity.  The  deceitful  and  jealous  savages  were 
to  be  closely  watched;  the  severities  of  winter 
were  to  be  guarded  against;  forests  to  be  felled 


20  RELIGIOUS   DISSENSIONS. 

and  converted  into  timber;  suitable  houses  to  be 
reared,  and  lands  cleared  and  prepared  for  the 
plow. 

Then,  at  a  later  period,  after  the  colonies  were 
permanently  established,  misunderstandings  ensued 
between  them,  which  resulted  in  war.  The  mother 
countries,  to  which  these  colonies  belonged,  sym- 
pathized with  them,  and  took  part  in  a  contest  that 
furnished  many  tragic  scenes.  Some  of  the  more 
important  of  these  scenes,  together  with  interesting 
incidents  which  occurred  about  the  same  time,  in 
the  explorations  made  by  adventurous  navigators 
along  the  coast  and  rivers,  will  be  described  in  the 
following  pages. 

In  the  contemplation  of  the  history  'of  the  past, 
there  are  few  things  that  awaken  more  painful 
emotions  than  the  discovery  of  the  bitter  hostility 
which  existed  between  different  denominations  of 
professed  Christians,  and  the  cruel  methods  by 
which  that  hostility  was  developed. 

After  the  discovery  of  North  America  by  the 
Cabots,  when  its  fertile  valleys  and  boundless  prai- 
ries were  under  the  dominion  of  barbarous  tribes  of 
Indians,  the  civilized  nations  of  Europe  were  con- 
vulsed with  internal  dissensions.  Different  classes 
of  religionists  were  arrayed  in  bitter  animosity 
against  each  other.  They  were  not  satisfied  with 
the  privilege  of  receiving  and  practicing  whatever 


EFFECTS    OF   PERSECUTION.  21 

they  believed  to  be  in  accordance  with  the  will  of 
God.  Each  was  anxious  that  all  others  should 
receive  his  creed,  and  conform  to  his  ritual;  and 
as,  in  accordance  with  the  vicissitudes  of  the  times, 
one  party  or  the  other  obtained  the  reins  of  govern- 
ment, did  they  use  their  power  to  coerce  others  to 
the  adoption  of  their  views.  If  this  was  not  effected 
by  mild  discipline,  more  stringent  measures  were 
used.  Hence  the  severe  enactments  which  were 
passed  by  different  administrations  against  opposite 
sections  of  the  Christian  Church.  At  one  time, 
puritanism,  at  another  time,  episcopacy  and  Catholi- 
cism were  made  to  suffer. 

It  is  interesting  to  observe  how  the  exhibition  of 
the  unlovely  elements  of  human  nature  in  this  exer- 
cise of  spiritual  despotism,  was  over  ruled,  so  as  to 
promote  civil  and  religious  freedom.  The  cruelties 
to  which  different  classes  of  Christians  were  sub- 
jected in  the  Old  World,  on  account  of  their  relig- 
ious opinions,  were  the  reasons  of  their  flight  to  the 
!NTew.  As  they  desired  to  go  where  they  would  not 
be  molested  for  their  opinions;  where  fines  and  con- 
fiscations, prisons  and  tortures,  would  not  be  the 
reward  of  their  adherence  to  what  they  conscienti- 
ously believed  to  be  truth ;  and  as  the  newly-discov- 
ered continent,  situated  three  thousand  miles  from 
their  own  land,  seemed  to  offer  them  the  safest 
asylum,  they  naturally  looked  to  that  as  the  place 


22  GEOKGE   CALVEET. 

of  their  retreat.  It  was  in  this  manner  that  the 
iron  hand  of  despotism  scattered  the'  seed  of  which 
our  free  institutions  are  the  fruit. 

Religious  persecution  was  the  immediate  cause 
of  the  flight  of  the  Puritans  to  New  England,  and 
of  the  Roman  Catholics  to  Maryland. 

George  Calvert,  a  distinguished  Papist,  who  was 
highly  esteemed  by  King  James — from  whom  he 
received  the  title  of  Lord  Baron  of  Baltimore  in  the 
kingdom  of  Ireland — attempted  to  establish  a  colony 
of  Roman  Catholics  in  Newfoundland.  When  ex- 
perience convinced  him  of  its  impracticability,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  the  more  favorable  climate 
of  Virginia,  of  which  he  had  heard  the  most  glow- 
ing accounts.  Being  very  coolly  received  by  the 
colony  already  established  there,  he  conceived  the 
idea  of  forming  a  settlement  on  Chesapeake  Bay, 
somewhere  above  the  river  Potomac. 

As  the  charter  of  the  London  Company,  under 
which  the  colonies  in  Virginia  had  been  established, 
was  dissolved,  the  king  assumed  the  right  of  re- 
granting  such  parts  of  the  territories  of  Virginia  as 
had  not  been  parceled  out  into  small  portions  to 
particular  individuals.  It  was  not  difficult,  there- 
fore, for  Lord  Baltimore,  who  stood  high  in  royal 
estimation,  to  obtain  the  promise  of  such  a  portion 
as  he  described  to  his  majesty.  But  before  the 
patent  could  be  drawn  up  and  receive  the  seals  of 


LEONARD    CALVEET.  23 

office,  Lord  Baltimore  died.  His  eldest  son,  Cecil- 
ius,  was,  by  the  laws  of  England,  heir  to  the  title 
and  the  estate  of  his  father.  To  him  the  patent  of 
lands  in  America,  designed  for  his  father,  was  exe- 
cuted. The  portion  of  country  which  was  embraced 
in  this  patent,  or  charter,  was  intended  to  have 
been  called  Crescentia,  but,  at  the  suggestion  of  the 
king,  it  was  changed  to  Maryland,  in  honor  of  his 
queen,  Henrietta  Maria. 

Cecilius  Calvert,  who  was  now  called  Lord  Bal- 
timore, went  zealously  to  work  to  hunt  up  colonists, 
and  prepare  conveniences  for  them  to  remove  to  the 
"New  World.  Impediments  were  thrown  in  his  way 
by  the  Virginia  Company,  who  seem  to  have  sup- 
posed that  the  lands  which  they  had  obtained  and 
cultivated,  were  about  to  be  taken  from  them,  and 
assigned  to  this  new  company.  But  this  error  being 
corrected,  and  certain  orders  in  council  being  passed, 
which  were  binding  upon  both  of  the  colonies,  and 
designed  for  their  equal  benefit,  Lord  Baltimore 
was  enabled  to  proceed  in  making  the  necessary 
arrangements  for  the  new  settlement. 

It  was  the  original  intention  of  Baltimore  to  have 
come  to  Maryland  with  his  colony,  but  this  he  sub- 
sequently abandoned,  and  appointed  his  brother, 
Leonard  Calvert,  Esq.,  to  go  in  his  place ;  whom  he 
also  made  Governor  for  the  administration  of  the 
affairs.  With  him  were  associated  Jeremy  Hawley 


24  THE    AKKIYAL. 

and  Thomas  Cornwallis,  Esqs.,  as  assistants,  oi 
counsellors. 

Calvert  succeeded  in  awakening  sufficient  interest 
to  induce  about  two  hundred,  among  whom  were 
persons  of  fortune  and  rank,  to  unite  with  him  in 
the  enterprise,  the  most  of  whom  were  Roman 
Catholics.  All  things  being  ready,  the  emigrants 
set  sail  from  Cowes,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  on 
Friday  the  22d  day  of  November,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  1633.  They  embarked  in  two  vessels, 
one  a  ship  called  "The  Ark,"  and  the  other  a  small 
pinnace  called  "The  Dove."  Taking  the  course  to 
America  which,  in  those  early  times,  was  usually 
pursued,  by  the  Azores  and  the  West  Indies, 
they  stopped  at  the  islands  of  St.  Christopher's, 
and  Barbadoes,  where  they  lingered  some  time, 
probably,  because  they  did  not  want  to  come  upon 
the  coast  of  North  America  in  an  unpropitious 
season  of  the  year,  when  the  attempt  to  establish 
a  settlement  and  build  a  town  would  be  attended 
with  great  inconveniences,  and  perhaps  painful 
privations.  In  consequence  of  these  delays,  they 
did  not  reach  Virginia  until  the  24th  of  February, 
at  which  time  they  arrived  at  Point  Comfort. 

As  a  narrative  of  that  voyage,  written  by  one  of 
the  company,  has  come  down  to  us,  we  cannot  do 
better  than  to  give  a  considerable  portion  of  it  in 
the  language  of  the  writer  himself.  The  author  is 


DELAYS    AND   DANGERS.  25 

Father  Andrew  White,  a  Jesuit  Missionary,  who 
accompanied  these  first  settlers  to  Maryland,  and 
who  wrote  an  account  of  the  voyage  in  Latin, 
which  account  is  among  the  archives  of  the  Jesuits 
at  Rome,  from  which  the  following  extracts  were 
translated.* 

"On  the  22d  of  November,  being  St.  Cecilia's 
day,  under  the  gentle  influence  of  an  eastern 
wind,  we  dropped  down  from  the  Isle  of  Wight. 
Having  placed  our  ship  under  the  protection  of 
God,  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mother,  St.  Ignatius,  and 
all  the  guardian  angels  of  Maryland,  we  had  pro- 
gressed but  a  short  distance,  when  we  were  obliged, 
for  the  want  of  wind,  to  cast  anchor  off  the  fortress 
of  Yarmouth,  where  we  were  welcomed  by  a  -salute. 
While  here,  we  were  not  without  some  apprehensions 
from  our  sailors,  who  began  to  murmur  among 
themselves,  alleging  that  they  expected  a  messenger 
from  land  with  letters ;  and  because  none  arrived, 
they  seemed  disposed  to  create  delays.  A  kind 
Providence  put  an  end  to  our  fears ;  for  during  the 
night  a  strong,  but  favorable,  wind  sprang  up,  and 
our  pinnace,f  which  apprehended  an  attack  from  a 
French  brig  that  kept  within  a  short  distance  of 
her,  took  advantage  of  the  wind  and  put  to  sea. 

*  Annals  of  Annapolis. 

f  The  pinnace  appears  to  have  been  a  sloop  of  about  forty 
tons,  called  "  The  Dove." 
3 


26  VIOLENT   STORM. 

We,  not  willing  to  lose  sight  of  her,  followed  her 
with  all  speed,  and  thus  frustrated  the  evil  designs 
of  our  sailors.  This  was  on  the  night  of  St.  Clem- 
ent's day,  the  23d  of  November.  On  the  next 
morning,  about  ten  o'clock,  after  receiving  a  second 
salute  from  the  fort  at  Hurst,  we  were  carried 
beyond  the  breakers  at  the  extremity  of  the  Isle  of 
Wight ;  and  narrowly  escaped  being  driven  on 
shore.  Taking  advantage  of  a  strong  fair  wind  on 
that  day  and  the  next  night,  we  left  the  western 
point  of  England,  slacking  sail,  lest,  running  ahead 
of  the  pinnace,  she  might  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  pirates  and  Turks,  who  then  infested  these 
seas.  On  the  24th  of  November,  we  made  great 
headway  until  evening,  when  a  violent  storm  arose, 
and  our  sloop,  being  diffident  of  its  strength,  being 
only  of  forty  tons  burden,  hove  to,  and  informed  us 
that,  in  case  of  danger,  she  would  carry  lights  at 
her  mast-head.  We  were  in  a  well-built  ship*  of 
four  hundred  tons,  as  strong  as  iron  and  wood  could 
make  her,  and  our  captain  was  one  of  great  experi- 
ence. The  storm  was  so  violent  that  we  gave  him 
the  choice  of  returning  to  England,  or  pursuing  the 
voyage.  His  intrepidity  and  confidence  in  the  un- 
tried powers  of  his  ship,  induced  him  to  choose  the 
latter.  But  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  in  a  boiling 

*  "The  Ark." 


CATHOLIC   DEVOTION.  27 

sea,  we  saw  our  sloop  at  a  short  distance  from  us, 
showing  two  lights  at  her  mast-head.  Then,  indeed, 
did  we  fear  for  her,  and  in  losing  sight  of  her  we  all 
supposed  she  had  been  swallowed  up  in  the  stormy 
sea.  Six  weeks  elapsed  before  we  again  heard 
from  her.  But  God  had  preserved  her.  Fearing 
that  she  could  not  survive  the  storm,  she  changed 
her  course,  and  took  refuge  in  the  Scilly  Isles.  She 
afterwards  sailed  in  pursuit  of  us,  and  we  met  at 
the  Antilles.  On  the  27th  and  the  28th  we 
made  but  little  progress.  On  Friday,  29th,  a 
most  dreadful  storm  arose,  that  made  the  most 
fearless  men  tremble  for  the  result.  Among  the 
Catholics,  however,  it  made  prayer  more  frequent ; 
vows  were  offered  in  honor  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Mother,  and  her  immaculate  conception,  of 
St.  Ignatius,  the  patron  saint  of  Maryland,  St. 
Michael  and  all  the  guardian  angels.  Each  one 
prayed  earnestly  to  expiate  his  sins  through  the 
sacrifice  of  penance.  For,  having  unshipped  her 
rudder,  our  vessel  was  tossed  about  at  the  mercy 
of  the  winds  and  waves.  At  first  I  feared  that  the 
loss  of  our  ship  and  death  awaited  me.  But  after 
spending  some  time  in  prayer,  and  having  declared 
to  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  to  his  Holy  Mother,  St. 
Ignatius,  and  the  protecting  angels  of  Maryland, 
that  the  purpose  of  this  voyage  was  to  pay  honor 
to  the  blood  of  our  Redeemer,  by  the  conversion 


28  UNNECESSARY   FEARS. 

of  barbarians,  I  arose  with  a  firm  confidence  that 
through  the  mercy  and  goodness  of  God,  we 
should  escape  the  dangers  that  seemed  to  threaten 
our  destruction.  I  had  bowed  myself  down  in 
prayer  during  the  greatest  rage  of  the  tempest, 
and,  let  the  true  God  be  glorified !  scarcely  had  I 
finished,  before  the  storm  was  ceasing. 

"I  felt  myself  imbued  with  a  new  spirit,  and 
overspread  with  a  flood  of  joy  and  admiration  at 
the  benevolence  of  God  to  the  people  of  Maryland, 
to  whom  we  were  sent.  Blessed  forever  be  the  mer- 
ciful charities  of  our  dear  Redeemer.  The  remain- 
der of  the  voyage,  which  lasted  three  months,  was 
prosperous.  Our  captain  affirmed  that  he  never 
witnessed  a  more  pleasant  and  happy  one.  The 
period  of  three  months  included  the  time  we  spent 
at  the  island  of  the  Antilles,  but  we  were,  in  fact, 
only  seven  weeks  and  two  days  at  sea.  In  sailing 
along  the  Spanish  coasts  we  were  apprehensive  of 
falling  into  the  hands. of  the  Turks,  but  we  never 
met  them.  Having  passed  the  Pillars  of  Hercules 
and  the  Madeira  Islands,  we  were  able  to  scud 
before  the  wind  with  full  sail.  The  winds  are  not 
variable  in  those  regions,  but  always  blow  in  a 
south-west  direction,  which  was  our  exact  course. 
At  the  distance  of  about  three  leagues  from  us,  we 
descried  three  sail  of  vessels,  the  smallest  of  which 
appeared  to  be  larger  than  ours.  Fearing  they 


EXTOETION.  29 

were  Turkish  pirates,  we  were  careful  to  avoid 
them,  though  we  prepared  our  vessel  for  action. 
But  as  they  showed  no  disposition  to  engage  us, 
we  concluded  they  were  merchantmen,  bound  for 
the  Fortunate  Islands,  and  as  much  afraid  of  us  as 
we  were  of  them.  During  the 

entire  voyage  no  person  was  attacked  with  any 
disease — except  that  at  Christmas,  wine  having 
been  freely  distributed  in  honor  of  that  festival, 
several  drank  of  it  immoderately;  thirty  persons 
were  seized  with  a  fever  the  next  morning,  of 
whom  twelve  died  shortly  after;  of  these,  two  were 
Catholics,  namely,  Nicholas  Fairfax  and  James 
Barefoot." 

The  course  which  was  pursued  by  the  voyagers 
was,  as  we  have  stated,  by  the  Azores  and  Barba- 
does.  They  landed  at  the  latter  place  on  the  5th 
of  January,  1634,  new  style.  Here,  Father  White 
says  that  the  governor  and  inhabitants,  who  were 
English,  endeavored  to  extort  unreasonable  prices 
for  provisions  and  other  necessary  articles.  One 
exception  was  made  in  potatoes,  which  were  so 
abundant  that  they  received  a  wagon-load  as  a 
present.  The  slaves,  at  that  time  upon  the  island, 
were  in  a  state  of  rebellion,  and  had  determined  to 
take  possession  of  the  first  vessel  that  should  arrive. 
But  their  plot  being  discovered,  the  ringleaders 
were  taken  aud  executed.  As  "  The  Ark"  was  the 
3* 


30  EAELT   NAMES. 

first  vessel  that  arrived,  she  was  the  doomed  prize ; 
and  on  the  very  day  that  her  company  landed, 
eighty  men,  whom  they  found  under  arms,  pre- 
vented the  slaves  from  executing  their  designs. 
Leaving  Barbadoes  they  passed  St.  Lucia,  Guada- 
loupe,  Montserrat,  to  St.  Christopher's,  where  they 
spent  ten  days. 

"  Having,  at  length,  weighed  anchor  hence,"  con- 
tinues Father  White,  "  we  pursued  our  voyage 
until  we  reached  a  point,  on  the  coast  of  Virginia, 
called  '  Comfort,'  on  the  27th  of  February.  We 
were  in  a  good  deal  of  dread  from  the  unfriend- 
liness of  the  English  inhabitants  of  Virginia — to 
whom  our  colony  had  been  an  unwelcome  theme. 
We  brought,  however,  letters  from  the  king, 
and  the  high  constable  of  England,  to  the 
governor  of  the  province,  which  contributed  very 
much  to  appease  their  feelings,  and  to  procure  us 
future  advantages.  After  receiving  kind  treatment 
for  nine  or  ten  days,  we  set  sail,  and  on  the 
3d  of  March,  having  arrived  in  the  Chesapeake 
Bay,  we  tacked  to  the  north  to  reach  the  Potomac 
river,  to  which  we  gave  the  name  of  St.  Gregory. 
We  called  the  point  which  stands  on  the  south,  St. 
Gregory  ;*  that  on  the  north,  St.  Michael's, f  in 
honor  of  the  choir  of  angels.  A  larger  and  more 

*  Smith's  Point.  f  Point  Lookout. 


BOAT   UPSET.  31 

beautiful  stream  I  never  have  seen.  The  Thames, 
compared  with  it,  is  but  a  rivulet.  Bounded  on 
the  sides  with  no  marshes,  it  runs  between  solid  and 
rising  banks.  On  either  side  are  splendid  forests, 
not  overgrown  by  weeds  or  briars ;  you  might 
drive  a  four-horse  carriage,  with  the  reins  loose  in 
your  hand,  through  them.  We  found  the  natives 
armed,  at  the  very  mouth  of  the  river.  That  night 
fires  were  blazing  throughout  the  country,  and  as 
they  had  never  seen  so  large  a  ship  as  ours,  mes- 
sengers were  sent  around  to  announce  the  arrival 
of  a  canoe  as  large  as  an  island,  and  numbering  as 
many  men  as  the  trees  in  a  forest.  We  passed  on 
to  the  Heron  Islands,  so  called  from  immense  flocks 
of  those  birds.  We  touched  at  the  first  of  them, 
which  we  called  St.  Clement's,  on  which,  owing  to 
its  sloping  banks,  we  could  only  land  by  fording. 
Here  the  maids,  who  had  landed  to  wash  the 
clothes,  were  almost  drowned  by  the  upsetting  of 
the  boat ;  I  lost  a  large  portion  of  my  linen — no 
small  loss  in  this  part  of  the  world.  This  island 
abounds  in  cedar-trees,  sassafras,  and  all  those  herbs 
and  flowers  entering  into  the  class  of  salads;  and 
the  walnut-tree,  with  a  heavy  shell,  and  a  small,  but 
very  delicious  kernel.  A  scope  of  four  hundred 
acres  did  not  appear  sufficient  for  our  new  planta« 
tion.  We  desired  a  place  which  might  preclude 
the  commerce  of  the  river  to  strangers,  and  also 


32  ERECTING   THE   CROSS. 

the  possibility  of  their  infringing  on  our  boundaries. 
This  was  the  most  narrow  crossing  of  the  river. 
On  the  day  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  B.  V.  Mary 
(25th  of  March),  we  first  offered  the  sacrifice  of  the 
mass,  never  before  done  in  this  region  of  the  world. 
After  which,  having  raised  on  our  shoulders  an  im- 
mense cross,  which  we  had  fashioned  from  a  tree,  and 
going  in  a  procession  to  the  designated  spot,  assisted 
by  the  governor,*  commissary,  and  other  Catholics, 
we  erected  the  trophy  of  Christ  the  Saviour,  and 
humbly  bent  the  knee  in  reverence  during  the 
devout  recitation  of  the  litany  of  the  holy  cross. 
Our  governor,  however,  having  understood  that 
the  great  chief  of  Piscataway  was  obeyed  by  many 
petty  chiefs,  determined  to  visit  him,  to  explain  the 
objects  of  our  coming,  that,  having  conciliated  his 
good-will  our  settlement  might  be  more  favorably 
regarded  by  the  rest.  Having,  therefore,  joined  to 
our  pinnace  another,  Avhich  he  had  procured  in 
Virginia,  and  leaving  the  ship  at  anchor  off  St. 
Clements,  retracing  his  course,  he  sailed  up  the 
southern  bank  of  the  river.  Finding  the  savages 
had  fled  into  the  interior,  he  proceeded  to  the 
village,  which,  taking  its  name  from  the  river,  is 
yet  called  Potomac.  Here  he  found  Archihu,  the 
uncle  and  tutor  of  the  king,  who  was  yet  a  boy. 

0  Leonard  Calvert. 


PREACHING   TO   THE   INDIANS.  33 

The  regency  was  in  prudent  and  experienced  hands. 
Father  Altham.  who  accompanied  the  governor  (for 
I  was  detained  with  the  baggage),  explained,  by 
means  of  an  interpreter,  the  truths  of  the  Christian 
religion.  The  chief  listened  to  him  willingly,  after 
acknowledging  his  own  faults.  Being  informed 
that  no  hostile  motives  had  brought  us  among 
them,  but  that  feelings  of  benevolence  prompted  us 
to  impart  to  them  the  advantages  of  civilization, 
and  to  open  the  path  of  heaven  to  them,  and  to  the 
more  distant  regions,  he  expressed  himself  not  only 
well  satisfied,  but  very  grateful  at  our  arrival.  The 
interpreter  was  from  the  Protestants  of  Virginia. 
As  the  father  could  not  explain  every  thing  at  once, 
he  promised  to  return  in  a  short  time.  '  I  think,' 
said  Archihu,  '  that  we  should  all  eat  of  the  same 
table  ;  my  young  men  will  visit  the  hunting-grounds 
for  you,  and  all  things  shall  be  in  common  with  us.' 
From  hence  we  went  to  Piscataway,  where  all  im- 
mediately flew  to  arms.  About  one  hundred  armed 
men  with  bows,  were  drawn  up  with  their  chief  at 
their  head.  On  learning  our  pacific  intentions,  lay- 
ing aside  his  fears,  the  chief  stepped  into  the  pin- 
nace, and  on  understanding  our  benevolent  views 
in  their  regard,  gave  us  liberty  to  settle  in  any  part 
of  his  kingdom  we  might  select.  In  the  mean  time, 
while  the  governor  was  on  his  journey  to  the  em- 
peror, the  savages  at  St.  Clement's  becoming  more 
2* 


34  AN  ENGLISH   INDIAN. 

bold,  mixed  familiarly  with  our  sentries.  "We  were 
accustomed  to  keep  up  a  patrol  day  and  night,  to 
protect  our  woodcutters  and  our  vessel,  which  was 
now  undergoing  repairs,  from  any  sudden  attack. 
The  natives  expressed  their  surprise  at  the  size  of 
our  vessel,  and  wondered  what  part  of  the  earth 
produced  a  tree  large  enough  to  make  such  a  boat. 
For  they  thought  that  it,  like  an  Indian  canoe,  was 
hewn  out  of  the  trunk  of  a  single  tree.  The  report 
of  our  cannon  struck  them  dumb  with  fear." 

To  his  surprise,  Calvert  discovered  here  an  En- 
glishman, Captain  Henry  Fleet,  who  had  become  so 
enamored  of  the  customs  and  modes  of  life  of  these 
uncivilized  creatures,  that  he  had  resided  among 
them  for  several  years.  During  this  period  he 
seems  to  have  conducted  himself  with  so  much 
discretion,  as  to  have  secured  the  general  respect 
and  confidence  of  his  adopted  friends. 

The  governor  invited  the  chief  of  this  people  to 
visit  him  on  board  his  vessel.  He,  at  first,  was  un- 
willing to  place  himself  so  far  in  the  power  of  these 
pale-faced  strangers,  but  through  the  intercession 
of  Captain  Fleet,  he  finally  consented.  This  shows' 
that  he  placed  considerable  reliance  upon  the  judg- 
ment and  fidelity  of  Fleet.  Otherwise  he  would 
not  have  committed  himself  into  the  hanils  of 
Fleet's  countryman. 

Although  the  king  of  England,  by  charter,  had 


A  DISCREET   REPLY.  35 

granted  this  country  to  Lord  Baltimore  and  his 
company,  yet  his  brother,  whom  we  have  seen  he 
appointed  governor,  did  not  regard  this  as  extin- 
guishing the  rights  of  the  original  inhabitants. 
Hence,  one  of  the  first  questions  he  aske.d  of  this 
native"  lord  of  the  soil  was,  whether  he  would  con- 
sent to  the  English  settling  in  his  territory  in  case 
they  found  a  locality  that  pleased  them.  The 
chief  discreetly  answered,  "  I  will  not  bid  you  go, 
neither  will  I  bid  you  stay,  but  you  may  use  your 
own  discretion."  By  this  shrewd,  non-committal, 
reply  he  threw  the  whole  responsibility  of  their 
decision  and  course  of  action  upon  the  English 
themselves. 

As  the  chief  remained  on  board  the  boat  longer 
than  his  followers  expected,  they  began  to  fear 
that  he  was  detained  there  against  his  will,  or  that, 
perhaps,  he  was  slain.  They  therefore  came  down 
to  the  shore  in  large  numbers  to  ascertain  the  facts. 
As  the  chief  was  out  of  sight,  their  fears  were  in- 
creased, and  nothing  would  pacify  them,  until  he 
made  his  appearance. 

As  it  seemed  to  the  governor  undesirable  to 
attempt  the  establishment  of  a  colony  so  far  up  the 
river,  he  retraced  his  course  to  St.  Clement's 
Island.  He  was  accompanied  on  his  return  by 
Captain  Fleet. 

He  next  proceeded  to  a  small  river  which  emj> 


36  THE   TOAMACOES. 

tied  into  the  Potomac  on  the  north  side,  and  which 
Calvert  named  St.  George's,  but  which  has  since 
received  the  more  permanent  name  of  St.  Mary's 
River.  After  sailing  up  this  stream  about  tAvelve 
miles,  he  came  to  an  Indian  town,  known  in  the 
native  dialect  as  Yoamaco.  It  was  inhabited  by  a 
tribe  called,  from  the  name  of  their  city,  Yoama- 
coes.  As  these  Indians  had  experienced  much 
trouble  from  their  more  powerful  neighbors,  the 
Susquehannas,  they  were  contemplating  a  re- 
moval to  a  place  where  they  hoped  to  be  secure 
from  their  encroachments.  Indeed,  some  had 
already  left  for  that  purpose.  In  a  few  days  all 
the  wigwams  which  composed  the  town  would  be 
forsaken. 

After  Calvert  landed,  he  frankly  informed  the 
Werowance,  as  the  chief  was  called,  that  he  was  in 
search  of  a  suitable  place  to  establish  a  colony,  and 
asked  him  his  opinion.  The  Werowance  manifested 
the  usual  Indian  characteristic — taciturnity — and 
said  but  little.  He,  probably,  did  not  want  these 
strangers  to  settle  there,  and  at  the  same  time  did 
not  wish  to  offend  them  by  an  expression  of  his 
feelings.  He,  however,  gave  a  hospitable  reception 
to  the  governor  ;  invited  him  into  his*  cabin ;  enter- 
tained him  kindly,  and  at  night  relinquished  to  him 
his  own  bed  to  sleep  on.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  by 
the  interview,  a  favorable  impression  was  made 


A   TBEATY.  37 

upon  the  mind  of  the  chief,  for  the  next  day  he 
voluntarily  showed  Calvert  the  country,  who  deter- 
mined to  select  this  as  the  place  of  his  first  settle- 
ment. After  coming  to  this  decision,  it  was  his 
policy  to  pursue  such  a  course  as  to  gain  the  con- 
sent of  the  Werowance  and  his  followers.  He, 
therefore,  manifested  toward  them  the  greatest 
friendship.  To  the  chief,  and  some  of  his  principal 
braves  and  counselors  he  made  presents  of  English 
cloth,  axes,  hoes  and  knives.  As  these  were  articles 
which  they  could  not  make,  and  were  yet  of  great 
service,  they  accepted  them  with  evident  marks  of 
pleasure. 

The  consequence  of  this  friendly  manifestation  on 
the  part  of  the  English  was,  that  they  secured  the 
consent  of  the  Indians  to  take  up  their  residence 
among  them  immediately;  and,  to  furnish  them 
with  something  like  suitable  accommodations,  they 
cheerfully  offered  to  vacate  the  huts  in  one  part  of 
the  town  for  their  present  use,  with  the  promise, 
that  so  soon  as  they  had  harvested  their  corn,  they 
would  relinquish  to  them  the  whole  town.  It  was 
further  agreed  upon,  that  until  that  time,  the  two 
parties  should  live  together  on  terms  of  friendship, 
and  that  each  nation  should  make  suitable  amends 
for  any  injury  which  any  of  their  own  people  might 
inflict  upon  the  other's. 

After  this  treaty  was  agreed  upon,  Calvert  sent 
4 


38  ORDERS. 

orders  to  the  men  who  were  in  his  ships  and  boats, 
which  had  probably  remained  at  St.  Clements,  to 
come  to  him;  and  on  the  27th  of  March,  1634, 
they  disembarked,  and  took  possession  of  the  town, 
to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  St.  Mary's. 


CHAPTER   II. 

A.  favorable  Circumstance — First  Buildings  erected — An  Indian  honored— 
The  Honor  misunderstood — A  Gala-day — Imposing  Ceremonies — 
Whites  and  Indians  living  together— Nature  of  the  Soil— Prepared  for 
Planting — Clayborue's  Conduct — He  is  frustrated — He  is  conquered, 
and  sent  to  England— His  Deception  there— His  Trial  and  its  Kesults— 
Clayborne  and  Ingle — Governor  Calvert  flees — Disorder  prevails — 
Records  lost— Session  of  the  Assembly— Governor  Hill— Peculiarities. 

IT  was  an  extremely  favorable  circumstance  for 
Calvert's  colony  that  the  Yoamacoes  were  on  the 
eve  of  abandoning  their  town,  at  the  time  of  their 
arrival,  as  it  furnished  them  with  dwellings  of  quite 
a  comfortable  character,  which  they  might  occupy 
until  they  could  erect  others  more  congenial  to  their 
tastes,  and  better  suited  to  their  wants.  They 
answered,  at  least,  for  a  shelter  from  the  heat,  and  a 
covert  from  the  storm.  Far  different  had  it  been 
with  the  colonies  of  Virginia  and  Massachusetts. 
If  the  Pilgrims  who  landed  on  Plymouth  Rock,  had 
been  so  successful  as  to  have  found  empty  dwellings 
ready  for  their  reception,  they  would  have  regarded 
it  as  a  special  providence  :  and  it  would  have  been 
in  perfect  keeping  with  their  habits,  if  they  had 
kept  a  day  of  special  thanksgiving  for  so  great  a 


40  AN   INDIAN    HONORED 

mercy.  The  incident  would  have  been  hold  in  con- 
slant  remembrance,  by  their  descendants,  and  re- 
peated, at  least  yearly,  in  some  of  their  many 
addresses  on  the  life  and  labors  of  their  ancestors. 

After  the  landing  of  the  colonists  at  St.  Mary's, 
they  proceeded  immediately  to  the  erection  of  two 
buildings,  in  one  of  which  to  store  their  food  and 
merchandise,  and  the  other  to  use  as  a  fort  for  de- 
fense. 

They  had  not  been  there  long  before  they  were 
favored  with  a  friendly  visit  from  Sir  John  Harvey, 
the  governor  of  the  infant  colonies  of  Virginia. 
This  seems  to  intimate  that  he  did  not  sympathize 
very  strongly  with  the  opposition  which  had  been 
made  by  some  of  the  Virginians  to  Calvert's  set- 
tling in  Maryland.  During  Harvey's  stay  at  St. 
Mary's,  Calvert  was  visited  by  several  Indian  chiefs, 
among  whom  was  the  Werowance  of  Patuxent,  who 
had  previously  passed  some  time  in  imprisonment 
among  the  English  in  Virginia.  For  the  gratifica- 
tion of  these  chiefs,  Calvert  gave  an  entertainment 
on  board  the  ship. 

In  the  arrangements  at  dinner,  a  seat  of  honor 
was  assigned  to  the  Patuxent  chief  at  the  table,  be- 
tween the  governors  of  Maryland  and  Virginia.  If 
this  had  been  understood,  it  would  have  been  re- 
garded as  a  mark  of  great  distinction,  and  would 
have  afforded  a  high  degree  of  satisfaction  to  the 


IMPOSING   CEREMONIES.  41 

natives.  But  the  design  of  the  courtesy  was 
strangely  misunderstood,  and  came  near  converting 
this  social  entertainment  into  a  painful  tragedy. 
One  of  the  Patuxent  Indians,  who  came  on  board 
the  ship,  as  he  looked  in  the  cabin,  and  saw  his  chief 
placed  between  the  two  governors,  received  the  im- 
pression that  he  was  detained  there  as  a  prisoner, 
and  carefully  guarded,  by  the  English.  He  was  so 
incensed  at  this  supposed  treason,  that  he  not  only 
refused  to  enter  the  cabin,  but  would  have  plunged 
overboard  to  escape  similar  treatment  himself,  if 
the  chief  had  not  left  his  position,  come  on  deck, 
and  convinced  him  of  his  mistake. 

When  the  store-house  was  completed,  and  it  be- 
came necessary  to  remove  the  cargo  from  the 
vessel  into  the  newly-erected  building,  the  governor 
thought  it  desirable  that  it  should  be  done  with  as 
much  of  pomp  and  public  parade  as  they  could  dis- 
play, in  order  to  excite  the  surprise,  and  secure  the 
respect  and  reverence  of  the  savages.  Accordingly 
the  occasion  was  converted  into  a  kind  of  gala-day. 
The  flags  were  brought  ashore,  to  wave  their  rich 
and  variegated  colors  in  the  flashing  sun-light.  The 
guns  were  taken  from  the  armory  of  the  vessel,  for 
the  equipment  of  the  men.  The  colonists  were 
drawn  up  in  military  array.  The  two  chiefs  of 
Patuxent  and  Yoamaco,  with  many  other  natives, 
occupied  favorable  positions  for  hearing  and  seeing 


42  REMARKABLE    SPEECH. 

every  thing  that  was  said  and  done.  All  things 
being  ready,  the  word  of  command  was  given,  and 
immediately  the  musketry  poured  forth  a  volley, 
which  fell  upon  the  ears  of  the  wondering  savages, 
like  the  crashing  of  a  forest  before  the  blast, 
Scarcely  had  the  sound  died  away,  before  the 
vessel  in  the  river  was  seen  to  pour  forth  from  the 
holes  in  her  sides,  streams  of  fire  and  smoke,  ac- 
companied with  reports  like  thunder.  This  being 
done  repeatedly,  was  adapted  to  impress  the 
Indians  with  the  wonderful  knowledge  and  power 
of  the  white  men,  and  probably  accomplished  the 
object  which  Calvert  had  in  view.  The  Patuxent 
chief,  who,  during  his  imprisonment  among  the 
English,  had  probably  witnessed  other  exhibitions 
of  their  skill  and  power,  took  this  occasion  to 
advise  the  Yoamaco  Indians  to  keep  on  good  terms 
with  them,  and  by  all  means  not  to  violate  their 
treaty  of  amity. 

This  chief  remained  at  St.  Mary's  several  days, 
and  it  is  reported  that,  when  he  left  the  governor, 
he  made  this  remarkable  speech :  "  I  love  the 
English  so  well  that  if  they  should  go  about  to 
kill  me,  if  I  had  breath  enough  to  speak,  I  would 
command  the  people  not  to  revenge  my  death,  for 
I  know  they  would  not  do  such  a  thing  except  it 
were  through  my  own  fault." 

So  judicious  was  the  policy   of  Calvrrt  in    his 


LIVING   TOGETHER.  43 

treatment  of  the  Indians,  that  he  secured  their  con- 
fidence, so  that  during  the  remainder  of  the  year, 
the  two  nations  lived  together  in  the  greatest  har- 
mony. They  joined  each  other  in  the  chase,  and 
when  the  Indians  were  more  successful  in  hunting 
or  fishing  than  the  English,  they  readily  parted 
with  their  game  for  some  trifling  articles,  as  knives 
or  beads,  and  in  this  manner  kept  their  new  visitors 
well  supplied  with  fresh  food.  They  even  went  so 
far  in  the  exhibition  of  their  confidence  in  these 
white  strangers,  as  to  allow  their  women  aud  chil- 
dren to  labor  as  domestics  in  their  families.  The 
women  taught  them  how  to  make  bread  of  their 
corn,  and  the  men  instructed  them  in  the  different 
modes  of  taking  deer  and  turkeys. 

It  was  a  fortunate  circumstance  that  the  emi- 
grants arrived  in  America  so  early  in  the  season. 
The  severity  of  the  winter  was  over,  and  all  the 
changes  which  took  place  in  the  advance  of  the 
season,  were  of  an  agreeable  character  and  indicated 
the  approach  of  spring.  Another  favorable  feature 
was,  that  the  land  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  vil- 
lage had  been  cultivated  by  the  Indians.  It  was 
not,  therefore,  in  its  wild  and  rugged  condition, 
but  broken  up  and  soft,  so  that  when  the  tune  for 
planting  arrived,  the  soil  was  found  to  be  in  a  com- 
paratively prepared  state ;  ready  for  the  reception 
of  seed.  This  saved  the  colonists  the  trouble  of 


44  CLAYBOKNE'S  CONDUCT. 

cutting  down  trees,  removing  stones,  and  effecting 
a  clearance  before  they  commenced  planting,  as  all 
this  had  been  done. 

Such  was  the  fertility  of  the  soil  that  the  year 
following  their  exports  of  Indian  corn  are  said  to 
have  amounted  to  ten  thousand  bushels.  This  was 
exchanged  with  the  colonies  of  New  England  for 
salt  fish,  and  other  provisions. 

The  pleasant  state  of  harmony  between  the 
English  and  the  Indians  was  interrupted.  One 
William  Clayborne,  who  had  been  opposed  to 
Calvert's  establishing  a  settlement  in  Maryland, 
had  formed  a  trading  post,  or  colony,  on  the  Isle 
of  Kent  in  the  Chesapeake  river,  and  within  the 
boundaries  of  Lord  Baltimore's  domain.  He,  also, 
had  the  nucleus  of  a  settlement  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Susquehanna.  He  had  done  all  this  under  the  pro- 
tection of  a  license  to  trade  with  the  natives  ;  and 
even  went  so  far  as  to  claim  the  land  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  settlements.  When,  therefore,  Lord  Balti- 
more obtained  from  the  king  a  grant  of  land  which 
included  what  Clayborne  had  called  his  property, 
the  latter  was  offended,  and  was  determined  to 
create  all  the  annoyance  in  his  power. 

When  Lord  Baltimore  was  informed  of  the  facts 
in  the  case,  he  issued  orders  that  if  Clayborne  would 
not  submit  to  his  authority  he  should  be  punished. 
The  attempt  to  seize  him,  however,  proved  unsuc- 


CLAYBOKNE   FRUSTRATED.  45 

cessful.  To  impede  the  prosperity  of  the  colony  at 
St.  Mary's,  Clayborne  endeavored  to  excite  the  In- 
dians against  it.  For  this  purpose  he  told  them  that 
these  newly  arrived  emigrants  were  Spaniards,  ene- 
mies to  the  English  in  Virginia,  and  presented  other 
motives  for  the  natives  to  attack  and  drive  them 
off.  At  first  the  simple-minded  aborigines  believed 
him,  and  at  once  discontinued  their  intercourse  with 
the  settlement  of  St.  Mary's.  Their  departure  and 
change  of  conduct  awakened  the  suspicions  of  Cal- 
vert  and  his  company  that  some  evil  was  contem- 
plated. They,  therefore,  relinquished  work  upon 
their  own  dwellings,  which  were  then  in  process  of 
erection,  and  combined  all  their  efforts  upon  the  fort, 
which,  in  the  course  of  six  weeks,  they  completed. 
After  having  provided  this  important  means  of  de- 
fense, they  returned  to  their  own  edifices  and  finish- 
ed them. 

Such  was  the  judicious  conduct  of  the  English ; 
so  careful  were  they  to  avoid  all  conduct  which  might 
awaken  the  suspicions  of  the  natives,  and,  so  con- 
stant were  they  in  giving  every  exhibition  of  friend- 
liness when  they  occasionally  met  them,  that  it  was 
not  long  before  the  Indians  were  convinced  that  the 
statements  made  by  Clayborne  were  false,  and  re- 
turned again  to  their  accustomed  intercourse  with 
the  whites. 

So  deepseated  was  Clayborne's  opposition  to  the 


46  CLAYBOENE   CONQUEEED. 

colony,  that  he  was  not  discouraged  by  this  failure 
to  excite  the  Indians  against  it,  but  resorted  to  other 
and  more  flagrant  measures.  In  1635  he  gave  a  com- 
mission to  one  of  his  adherents,  named  Ratcliffe 
Warren,  to  capture  any  of  the  vessels  which  be- 
longed to  the  emigrants  at  St.  Mary's  ;  and  to  aid 
him  in  the  execution  of  this  object,  he  furnished 
him  with  a  pinnace  which  carried  a  complement  of 
about  fourteen  men,  over  whom  Thomas  Smith  was 
second  in  command. 

In  anticipation  of  a  collision,  Governor  Calvert 
prepared  two  boats  for  the  emergency,  which  he 
properly  armed  and  manned  and  placed  under  the 
control  of  Thomas  Cornwallis,  Esq. 

It  is  difficult  for  vessels  belonging  to  opposing 
parties,  to  float  in  the  same  waters,  with  a  knowl- 
edge of  each  others  proximity,  without  soon  find- 
ing an  occasion  to  develop  their  belligerent  designs. 
That  was  the  case  in  the  present  instance.  When 
the  parties  met,  which  was  in  the  month  of  April, 
in  one  of  the  rivers  of  Maryland,  Clayborne's  men 
opened  their  fire  upon  the  boats  of  Cornwallis. 
Scarcely  had  the  echoes  from  the  shore  died  away 
before  the  insult  was  resented  by  the  guns  of  Corn- 
wallis. The  engagement,  which  was  probably  of 
short  duration,  resulted  in  the  death  of  one  of  Corn- 
wallis's  men,  and  two  of  Clayborne's,  and  in  the  cap- 
ture of  the  boat  and  whole  party  of  the  latter.  It 


CLAYBOENE   IN   ENGLAND.  47 

was  now  an  easy  task  for  the  conquerors  to  take 
possession  of  the  Isle  of  Kent,  on  which  was  Clay- 
borne's  settlement. 

Clayborne,  fearing  the  threats  of  Calvert,  fled  to 
Virginia  and  sought  shelter  under  the  protection  of 
Governor  Harvey.  Calvert  sent  to  Virginia  to  re- 
claim him  as  a  fugitive  from  justice;  but  Harvey 
considered  it  best  to  send  him  to  England  for  trial, 
accompanied  by  the  witnesses  in  the  case. 

After  his  flight,  the  colonial  assembly  of  Maryland 
passed  an  act  of  attainder  against  him  and  seized 
his  estates. 

When  Clayborne  arrived  in  England  he  attempt- 
ed to  seek  redress  for  his  wrongs.  By  misrepresent- 
ations and  the  influence  of  powerful  friends,  he  suc- 
ceeded, for  a  brief  period,  in  obtaining  the  favorable 
consideration  of  the  King.  But  when  the  whole 
matter  was  examined  by  the  commissioners  for  the 
plantations,  they  sustained  the  claims  of  Lord  Balti- 
more, and  decided  that  he  possessed  the  exclusive 
authority  to  establish,  or  permit  others  to  establish 
settlements,  or  open  commerce  with  the  Indians 
within  the  limits  of  Maryland. 

Clayborne  had  been  encouraged  and  assisted  in 
his  rebellion  by  Captain  Richard  Ingle,  who  had 
been  arrested  upon  a  charge  of  treason,  but  had 
managed  to  escape  from  the  authorities.  At  a 
later  period,  under  the  impulse  of  revenge  for  what 


48  EECOEDS   LOST. 

they  deemed  the  wrongs  which  they  had  received 
from  Lord  Baltimore,  Clayborne  and  his  party  came 
upon  St.  Mary's  and  compelled  Governor  Calvert  to 
flee,  who  was  glad  to  find  a  refuge  from  them  in 
the  colony  of  Virginia.  The  insurgents  now  haa 
every  thing  in  their  own  way  and  the  result  was 
that  disorder  and  misrule  prevailed.  Their  domin- 
ion, however,  was  of  short  duration,  lasting  only  a 
little  longer  than  a  year.  They  managed,  however, 
among  other  ruinous  deeds,  to  lose,  or  destroy  al 
most  all  the  early  records  of  the  colony. 

How  the  affairs  of  the  colony  were  managed  dur- 
ing the  period  of  Ingle's  and  Clayborne's  rebellion, 
and  what  particular  incidents  occurred,  it  is  now 
impossible  to  tell.  By  the  loss  of  the  records,  to 
which  allusion  has  just  been  made,  we  have  been 
deprived  of  authentic  documents  upon  the  subject; 
and  cotemporary  writers,  it  appears,  did  not  re- 
gard the  events  which  transpired  of  sufficient  im- 
portance to  make  them  the  subjects  of  historical 
narrative. 

During  Calvert's  absence  from  Maryland,  a  Mr. 
Hill  was  chosen  governor ;  but  when  at  the  latter 
part  of  the  year  1646,  Calvert  returned  with  a  little 
army  which  he  had  managed  to  collect  in  Virginia 
the  insurgents,  after  some  slight  engagements,  sub- 
mitted to  him.  Mr.  Hill  "the  pretended  govern- 
or" was  compelled  to  relinquish  his  office,  but 


PECULIAEITIES.  49 

this  was  done  upon  certain  conditions  to  which  he 
and  Calvert  mutually  subscribed. 

The  first  session  of  the  assembly  of  Maryland 
which  was  held  after  Governor  Calvert's  restoration 
to  authority,  exhibited  two  remarkable  peculiar- 
ities. During  Governor  Hill's  equivocal  administra- 
tion he  called  an  assembly  of  the  province  which, 
after  passing  some  laws  (now  unknown),  adjourned. 
After  Calvert's  reinstatement  to  office  he  convened 
the  same  assembly  again. 

It  appears  to  us  remarkable  that  Calvert  could 
have  had  sufficient  confidence  in  an  assembly  which 
had  been  called  by  Hill  during  the  rebellion  (and 
who  are  said  to  have  consisted,  with  two  or  three 
exceptions,  of  Calvert's  enemies)  to  trust  them  with, 
the  power  of  enacting  laws  for  the  colony.  If,  how- 
ever, we  were  acquainted  with  all  the  circumstances, 
it  might  be  seen  that  this  was  an  eminently  judicious, 
pacific  movement,  and  was  directly  adopted  to  bring 
back  those  insurgents,  who  had  been  led  astray  by 
Clayborne,  to  afirmadhesion  to  Calvert's  government. 

The  other  peculiarity  was  that  at  this  session  of 
the  assembly  we  have  the  first  instance  recorded  of 
the  distinction  between  the  upper  and  lower  houses 
of  assembly  "  and  the  form  practiced  of  sending  for 
the  lower  house  to  attend  the  governor  in  the  up- 
per, to  hear  his  speech  to  them  in  the  manner  of  an 
English  legislative  body." 


CHAPTER   III. 

Colonists  to  scatter— Foresight  of  Lord  Baltimore— Conditions  of  Land- 
grants — Special  Instructions — Courts  Baron  and  Courts  Leet — New  Uses 
— Eemnant  of  the  Feudal  Ages — Manors  of  Lands — Important  Fea- 
ture—Failure of  the  Aristocratic  Element  a  Cause  of  Thanksgiving. 

IT  will  be -appropriate  here  to  consider,  on  what 
terms  grants  of  lands  were  made  by  Lord  Baltimore 
to  individual  colonists. 

It  was  not  expected,  when  the  enterprise  of  set- 
tling Maryland  was  first  commenced,  that  all  the 
colonists  would  establish  themselves  in  one  place, 
but  that  as  they  gathered  strength,  and  secured  the 
good  will  of  the  Indians,  they  would  scatter  them- 
selves throughout  the  region.  The  intelligent  fore- 
sight of  Lord  Baltimore  induced  him  to  make  provi- 
sion for  this,  by  holding  out  inducements  for  the 
people  to  emigrate  and  disperse  over  the  country. 

In  the  year  1636  he  authorized  his  brother,  the 
acting  governor  of  the  province,  to  make  liberal 
grants  of  land  to  those  already  in  the  country,  and 
then  "  to  every  other  adventurer  which  shall  trans- 
port any  number  of  persons  less  than  five,  a  grant 
of  one  hundred  acres  of  land  for  him  or  herself,  and 
one  hundred  more  for  his  wife  (if  he  brought  any), 


CONDITIONS    OF   LAND    GRANTS.  51 

and  as  much  for  every  man-servant,  and  fifty  acres 
more  for  every  child  under  the  age  of  sixteen  years  ; 
and  for  every  maid-servant  under  the  age  of  forty 
years,  to  his  or  her  heirs,  forever,  for  the  yearly  rent 
of  twelve  pence  for  every  fifty  acres." 

Other  instructions  which  were  given  had  a  strong 
tendency  to  create  a  permanent  aristocracy,  which 
would  have  entailed  a  perpetual  curse  upon  the  land. 
They  were  as  follows  : — every  one,  two,  or  three 
thousand  acres  thus  granted  was  to  be  erected  into 
a  manor,  and  named  as  the  adventurer  holding  it 
should  please. 

"  And  we  do  further  authorize  you  that  you  cause 
to  be  granted  unto  every  of  the  said  adventurers, 
within  every  of  the  said  manors  respectively,  and 
to  his  or  their  heirs  a  court  baron  and  court  leet, 
to  be  from  time  to  time  held  within  every  such 
manor  respectively." 

These  courts  baron  and  courts  leet  were  courts 
of  which  the  baron,  and  sometimes  his  steward,  were 
the  judges  for  the  trial  of  civil  cases.' 

However  repugnant  such  manors,  with  their 
courts  and  privileges,  are  to  our  republican  views  of 
the  present  day,  it  is  evident  that  at  that  time  they 
furnished  a  strong  inducement  for  gentlemen  of 
property  in  England,  to  emigrate  with  their  families 
and  adherents  to  Maryland,  as  they  would  be  exalted 
to  a  baronetcy, with  power  to  hold  these  feudal  courts. 


52  ATTEMPT    AT   FEUDALISM. 

One  feature  in  these  grants  of  land  of  a  highly 
important  character,  was,  that  they  were  to  be  of 
an  "  indefeasible  estate  of  inheritance  in  fee  simple, 
to  them  and  their  heirs,  forever."  That  is  to  say, 
the  conditions  on  which  the  lands  were  originally 
granted  to  the  adventurers  were  never  to  be  altered, 
but  were  to  descend  to  their  heirs  forever,  on  the 
same  conditions.  So  that  the  grant  of  one  thousand 
acres  of  land  for  the  yearly  rent  of  twenty  shillings, 
to  be  paid  in  the  commodities,  was  to  remain  the 
same  forever.  The  rent  could  never  be  increased. 
No  matter  how  greatly  the  value  of  the  land  might 
rise,  nor  how  large  might  be  the  income  accruing 
to  the  tenant  or  baron  who  held  it,  this  rent  of  twen- 
ty shillings  could  never  be  increased.  This  was  the 
English  meaning  of  fee  simple. 

It  is  easy  to  perceive  that  this  was  a  remnant  of 
the  customs  which  prevailed  in  the  feudal  ages, 
when  a  king,  or  great  lord  granted  to  noblemen  or 
military  officers,  for  a  nominal  annuity,  a  large  extent 
of  territory  to  govern,  and  from  which  to  derive  a 
revenue  for  their  own  benefit. 

In  accordance  with  the  instructions  which  he 
gave  to  the  Governor  of  Maryland,  Lord  Baltimore 
laid  off,  in  different  parts  of  the  province,  manors 
of  lands,  some  of  which  were  reserved  for  his  own 
use,  others  for  the  benefit  of  his  relatives  and 
friends,  and  others  for  any  individuals  who  would 


FAILURE   OF    ATTEMPTS   AT    FEUDALISM.  53 

receive  them  according    to    the    specified   condi- 
tions. 

But  although  this  attempt  to  fasten  an  odious, 
aristocratic,  and  feudal  element  upon  our  soil,  wag 
thus  made  in  the  first  settlement  of  the  country,  it 
should  be  a  matter  of  sincere  thanksgiving  that  it 
proved  a  failure.  If  courts  baron  or  courts  leet 
were  ever  held  in  Maryland,  the  records  of  them 
have  perished.  It  is  certain  that  if  they  were  held 
at  all,  it  must  have  been  but  very  seldom. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

.  we  i  eons  Inferences — Eeligious  Liberty — When  it  is  defective — Charter 
and  Laws  of  Maryland — Conformity  to  the  Ecclesiastical  Laws  of  Eng- 
land— Union  of  Eeligion  and  Civil  Government — Eeligious  Toleration 
— Eeproachful  Terms  forbidden — Penalty  for  using  them — Liberty 
limited — Oppressive  Laws — The  Difference  in  Ehode  Island — Influence 
of  Protestantism— Liberal  Principles. 

SOME  writers  upon  the  history  of  our  country 
have  used  such  strong  and  glowing  language  re- 
specting the  religious  liberty  of  the  young  Catholic 
colony  of  Maryland  as  is  liable  to  convey  an 
erroneous  impression.  And  inferences  have  been 
drawn  from  it  to  show  that  one  of  the  glorious 
features  of  Roman  Catholicism  is  its  toleration  of 
all  religious  sects  ! ! 

A  mere  reference  to  Ireland,  Italy,  Spain  or 
Portugal,  when  under  the  dominion  of  the  papacy, 
would  be  a  sufficient  refutation  to  such  an  infer- 
ence. But,  as  a  sober  argument  to  establish  this 
false  position  is  •  attempted  to  be  made  out  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  colony  of  Maryland,  it  is  appro- 
priate that  the  facts  should  here  be  stated. 

Religious  liberty,  or  the  toleration  of  all  religious 


EELIGIOFS    LIBERTY.  55 

sects,  is  that  element  of  civil  government  which 
allows  every  person  to  form  any  opinion  upon 
religious  subjects,  and  practice  any  religious  cere- 
monies, he  pleases,  provided  he  does  not  interfere 
with  the  rights  of  others.  The  attempt,  by  any 
legal  enactments,  to  bring  about  a  uniformity  of 
belief  and  practice — to  fine,  imprison,  or  otherwise 
punish  men  for  their  religious  belief,  is  tyranny.  In 
the  degree  in  which  these  coercive  measures  are 
adopted  in  any  government,  is  the  element  of  relig- 
ious liberty  defective.  Let  us  see  now  what  were 
the  facts  upon  this  subject  in  the  early  history  of 
Maryland. 

If  we  turn  to  the  charter,  we  find  that  the  fourth 
paragraph,  or  section,  grants  to  Lord  Baltimore  and 
his  heirs,  authority  to  erect  and  found  "  churches, 
chapels,  and  places  of  worship,  in  convenient  and 
suitable  places  within  the  premises,  and  of  causing 
the  same  to  be  dedicated  and  consecrated  accord- 
ing to  the  ecclesiastical  law  of  our  kingdom  of 
England." 

From  that  it  would  seem  that  the  extent  in 
which  religious  liberty  could  be  enjoyed,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  precise  construction  of  the  charter, 
was  the  degree  in  which  it  existed  in  the  mother 
country.  The  phrase  which  we  have  italicised 
above,  fixed  its  limits. 

In  the  twenty-second  section  it  was  provided 


56  UNION    OF    CHURCH    ANT)    STATE. 

that  no  interpretation  of  the  charter  should  "  be 
made  whereby  God's  holy  and  true  Christian  relig- 
ion, or  the  allegiance  due  to  us,  our  heirs,  and  suc- 
cessors, may  in  anywise  suffer  by  change,  prejudice, 
or  diminution." 

While,  therefore,  the  charter,  in  respect  to  its 
phraseology,  grants  protection  to  the  Christian 
religion,  it  attempts  no  definition  of  what  that 
religion  is.  It  might  be  inferred  from  the  fourth 
section,  that  it  meant  the  Christian  religion  as  set- 
tled by  "the  ecclesiastical  laws  of  England." 

If  we  leave  the  charter  and  pass  on  to  some  of 
the  early  laws  which  were  enacted  upon  this  sub- 
ject, we  shall  discover  the  opinions  and  policy  of 
the  colonists  themselves. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Mary- 
land, held  in  1649,  a  law  was  passed  entitled  "An 
act  concerning  religion,"  the  preamble  of  which 
states,  "Forasmuch  as  in  a  well-governed  and 
Christian  commonwealth,  matters  concerning  re- 
ligion and  the  honor  of  God  ought,  in  the  first 
place  to  be  taken  into  serious  consideration  and 
endeavored  to  be  settled,  be  it  therefore  ordained, 
etc." 

This  preamble  assumes  the  right  of  the  Legislature 
to  settle,  by  legal  enactments,  the  religious  institu- 
tions of  the  land ;  to  decide  what  opinions  and 
practices  shall  be,  and  what  shall  not  be,  tolerated; 


EELIGIOUS   TOLERATION.  57 

it  thus  goes  the  whole  length  of  admitting  the  con- 
stitutionality of  the  connection  between  Church  and 
State — the  power  of  the  Legislature  to  erect,  by 
legal  enactments,  an  established  religion.  Although 
this  principle  is  now  repudiated  in  the  United  States, 
being  regarded  there  as  the  bane  of  nations,  fraught 
with  almost  every  kind  and  degree  of  political  evil, 
yet  at  the  period  of  which  we  treat,  it  was  not 
peculiar  to  Maryland.  It  was  generally  adopted. 
It  was  in  practical  operation  in  Virginia,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, in  England,  and  the  other  governments  of 
Europe.  So  important  was  the  connection  between 
the  government  and  the  Church  at  that  time  consid- 
ered, that  one  of  the  first  duties  of  the  government 
was  supposed  to  be  the  protection  of  the  interests 
of  the  Church,  and  therefore  this  is  expressly  stated 
in  the  above  preamble. 

Although  this  preamble  admits  the  right  of  the 
Legislature  to  settle  "  matters  concerning  religion," 
yet  the  law  to  which  it  was  the  introduction,  was 
an  exceedingly  liberal  one,  and  granted  liberty  of 
conscience  to  all  persons  "  professing  to  believe  in 
Jesus  Christ."  Its  language  is,  "  Whereas  the  en- 
forcing of  the  conscience  in  matters  of  religion, 
hath  frequently  fallen  out  to  be  of  dangerous  con- 
sequence in  those  commonwealths  where  it  has  been 
practiced,  and  for  the  more  quiet  and  peaceable 
government  of  this  province,  and  the  better  to  pre- 


58  OBJECT    OP   LORD  BALTIMORE. 

serve  mutual  love  and  unity  among  the  inhabit- 
ants here,  be  it  therefore  also,  by  the  lord  propriet- 
ary, with  the  advice  and  assent  of  this  assembly, 
ordained  and  enacted  *  *  *  that  no  person 
or  persons,  within  this  province  *  *  *  profess- 
ing to  believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  shall  from  henceforth 
be  anywise  troubled,  molested,  or  discountenanced 
for,  or  in  respect  of,  his  or  her  religion,  nor  in  the 
free  exercise  thereof,  within  this  province  *  *  * 
nor  any  way  compelled  to  the  belief,  or  exercise  of 
any  other  religion,  against  his  or  her  consent." 

It  was  also  enacted  that  any  person  who  should 
violate  this  law  by  troubling  or  molesting  others, 
either  hi  person  or  estate,  on  account  of  their  re- 
ligion, should  be  compelled  •  to  pay  treble  dam- 
ages to  the  party  so  injured,  and  for  every  such 
offense  should,  hi  addition,  forfeit  twenty  shillings 
sterling. 

This  was  a  very  liberal  provision,  and  was  far  in 
advance  of  any  other  government,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  small,  but  free  and  independent,  colony 
of  Providence. 

The  object  of  Lord  Baltimore  was  to  increase  the 
number  of  settlers  in  Maryland.  To  accomplish 
this  he  adopted  a  wise  policy.  Religious  persecu- 
tion was  the  fashion  of  the  times.  Catholics,  Puri- 
tans, and  all  other  sects,  except  those  belonging  to 
the  Established  Church,  were  subjected  to  great 


PENALTIES   FOR   REPROACHES.  59 

disabilities  in  England  in  consequence  of  their  re- 
ligious tenets ;  while  in  the  Roman  Catholic  coun- 
tries of  Europe,  all,  except  the  adherents  of  the 
papacy,  were  the  objects  of  ecclesiastical  censure, 
and  criminal  prosecution.  Liberty  to  think  and 
act  for  oneself  in  religious  matters,  was  nowhere 
allowed  in  Europe.  The  establishment  of  a  colony, 
therefore,  where  unfettered  freedom  of  conscience 
was  to  be  guarantied  to  all  the  colonists,  must  have 
appeared  like  a  bright  spot  in  the  horizon,  to  the 
various  persecuted  sects  in  the  Old  World,  and  must 
have  furnished  them  with  a  strong  inducement  to 
emigrate,  that  they  might  enjoy  the  peace  which 
was  denied  them  in  their  own  lands. 

So  minute  in  its  details  was  the  law  that  was 
passed  hi  Maryland  as  to  be  almost  a  violation  of 
its  own  fundamental  principle.  For  instance,  it 
enacted  that  any  person  who  should,  upon  any 
occasion,  declare,  or  call  by  way  of  reproach,  any 
other  person  residing  in  the  province,  a  Heretic, 
Schismatic,  Idolater,  Puritan,  Presbyterian,  Inde- 
pendent, Popish  Priest,  Jesuit,  Jesuited  Papist, 
Lutheran,  Calvinist,  Anabaptist,  Brownist,  Anti- 
nomian,  Barrowist,  Round-head,  Separatist,  or  other 
name  or  term,  in  a  reproachful  manner,  relating  to 
religion,  should,  for  every  such  offense,  be  fined 
ten  shillings  sterling.  If  he  had  not  property  suf- 
ficient to  pay  this  fine,  he  was  then  to  be  publicly 


60  CONTRACTED   LIBEETY. 

whipped,  and  then  suffer  imprisonment  until  he 
should  satisfy  the  offended  person  by  asking  his  or 
her  forgiveness  publicly,  in  the  presence  of  the 
officers  or  chief  magistrate  of  the  town  where  the 
offense  was  committed. 

A  law  like  this  would,  at  the  present  day,  be  regard- 
ed as  a  great  infringement  upon  liberty  of  speech. 
Many  of  these  forbidden  terms  were  used  as  descrip- 
tive epithets  and  saved  a  circumlocution.  They 
could  be  used  therefore  without  the  exhibition  of 
any  disrespect  whatever.  It  is  evident  also  that  the 
execution  of  the  law  would  involve  great  difficulty, 
for  how  could  it  be  satisfactorily  settled  in  any  given 
instance,  whether  these  terms  were  used  reproach- 
fully or  merely  as  explanatory — as  simply  descriptive 
of  the  parties  intended  ? 

Still,  the  law,  taken  as  a  whole,  appears  to  exhi- 
bit the  determination  of  the  colony  to  protect  all 
individuals  from  insult  and  injury  on  account  of 
their  religious  opinions.  It  seems,  upon  a  cursory 
glance,  to  offer  universal  religious  toleration.  But 
a  more  careful  examination  of  its  provisions  will 
convince  us  that  this  is  not  the  case. 

In  the  first  place,  those  to  whom  toleration  was 
offered  were  those  "professing  to  believe  in  Jesus 
Christ."  Consequently  all  who  came  not  within  this 
description  were  excluded.  Jews,  Mohammedans, 
Hindoos,  etc.,  would  not  have  been  allowed  the 


OPPRESSIVE   LAWS.  61 

unmolested  enjoyment  of  their  religious  views,  if 
they  had  been  disposed  to  reside  there.  Even  the 
Indians,  the  original  owners  of  the  soil,  were  not 
protected  by  this  law  in  their  religion.  It  was  very 
far  therefore  from  granting  universal  religious  lib- 
erty. 

In  the  next  place,  when  we  ascertain  who  are 
meant  by  "those  professing  to  believe  in  Jesus 
Christ,"  we  shall  discover  another  great  contraction 
in  the  liberty  granted  by  this  law,  which  would 
throw  without  the  pale  of  its  protection  thousands 
of  individuals  who,  at  the  present  day,  profess  to  be 
believers  in  Christ.  It  was  designed  as  descriptive 
of  those  who  are  generally  known  as  "  evangelical" 
or  "  orthodox"  in  their  belief — those  who  hold  to 
the  Supreme  Divinity  of  Christ,  and  the  trinity  of 
persons  in  the  Godhead.  All  such  sects  had  liberty 
of  conscience  granted  them.  But  believers  in  what 
is  now  termed  Unitarianism,  were  not  only  not  tol- 
erated, but  were  subjected  to  the  severest  penalty 
that  could  be  executed.  For  the  law  enacted  that 
"  any  person  or  persons,  within  this  province,  that 
shall  deny  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  to  be  the  Son 
of  God,  or  shall  deny  the  Holy  Trinity,  the  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  or  the  Godhead  of  any  of  the 
said  three  persons  of  the  Trinity,  or  the  Unity  of 
the  Godhead,  or  shall  use  or  utter  any  reproachful 
speeches,  words  or  language  concerning  the  Holy 
6 


62          BLENDING   OF   LIBERTY   AND   DESPOTISM. 

Trinity,  or  any  of  the  said  three  persons  thereof, 
shall  be  punished  with  death,  and  confiscation,  or 
forfeiture  of  all  his  or  her  lands  and  goods"  ! ! 

It  is  a  very  remarkable  circumstance  that  while, 
in  the  Puritan  colonies  of  Massachusetts,  Episcopa- 
lians and  other  sects  were  not  tolerated,  and  in  the 
Episcopalian  settlement  in  Virginia,  Puritans  and 
others  were  not  allowed  a  peaceful  residence,  yet  in 
the  Catholic  colony  of  Maryland,  Episcopalians  and 
Puritans  were  both  permitted  the  enjoyment  of  free- 
dom of  conscience  though  the  same  law  that  grant- 
ed them  that  boon  doomed  every  Unitarian  to 
death  !* 

In  the  same  statute  it  was  also  enacted  that  who- 
ever should  utter  any  reproachful  words  concern- 
ing the  "  blessed  Virgin  Mary,"  or  any  of  the  apos- 
tles or  evangelists,  should  be  fined  five  pounds  ster- 
ling, and  if  he  was  too  poor  to  pay  the  fine,  he  was 
to  be  whipped  and  afterward  imprisoned  during  the 
pleasure  of  the  lord  proprietary,  or  the  governor  of 
the  province.  For  the  second  offense  he  was  to  pay 
a  fine  of  ten  pounds  sterling,  or,  as  a  substitute,  to 
be  "  publicly  and  severely  whipped,"  and  for  the 
third  ofiense  he  was  to  forfeit  all  his  lands  and  goods 
arid  be  forever  banished  from  the  colony. 

In  this  law  there  was  a  strange  blending  of  the 

*  This  law,  it  is  said,  still  exists  in  Maryland. 


LIBERTY  IN  RHODE  ISLAISD.  63 

elements  of  religious  liberty  and  spiritual  despotism. 
And  how  a  legislative  body  which  approved  of  one 
part  of  its  provisions,  could  favor  another  part,  is 
"  passing  strange."  Yet,  with  all  its  imperfections, 
it  was  on  the  whole  a  very  liberal  enactment,  when 
compared  with  those  of  the  colonies  of  Plymouth, 
Massachusetts,  and  Jamestown.  It  granted  more 
religious  freedom  than  could  be  enjoyed  under  any 
monarchy  in  Europe.  Its  spirit  of  toleration  was 
excelled  nowhere  upon  earth,  except  by  the  plant- 
ations at  Rhode  Island,  where  at  the  first  meeting 
of  their  General  Assembly,  held  in  May,  1647,  a  code 
of  civil  regulations  was  passed,  wThich  concluded  as 
follows  :  "  Otherwise  than  thus,  what  is  herein  for- 
bidden, all  men  may  walk  as  their  consciences  per- 
suade them,  every  one  in  the  name  of  his  God. 
And  let  the  lambs  of  the  Most  High  walk  in  this 
colony  without  molestation,  in  the  name  of  Jeho- 
vah, their  God,  forever  and  ever." 

Some  time  prior  to  this,  it  had  been  decided  by 
the  authorities  of  the  town  of  Providence,  that  all 
persons  who  settled  there  should  sign  a  document, 
in  which  they  promised  to  submit  themselves  in 
active  or  passive  obedience  to  all  such  orders  or 
agreements  as  should  be  regularly  adopted  by  a 
majority  of  the  inhabitants,  but  "only  in  civil 
things."  This  left  their  religious  opinions  and 
practices  untouched. 


64  INFLUENCE    OF   THE   PROTESTANTS. 

While,  therefore,  in  Maryland,  religious  tolera- 
tion was  granted  to  those  only  who  professed  to 
believe  in  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  the 
trinity  of  persons  in  the  Godhead  (the  deniers  of 
these  sentiments  being  doomed  to  death),  in  Rhode 
Island  every  complexion  of  religious  faith  was 
allowed.  Jews  and  Christians,  Mohammedans  and 
Pagans,  were  alike  guarantied  the  unmolested  en- 
joyment of  their  religious  opinions  and  practices. 
None  were  subjected  to  any  civil  disabilities,  or 
other  penalty,  on  account  of  their  faith.  Conduct, 
and  not  opinions,  was  there  regarded  as  the  only  ap- 
propriate subject  of  legal  adjudication.  A  man 
might  believe  and  practice  what  he  chose,  provided 
he  did  not  trespass  upon  the  rights  of  others.  The 
widest  religious  liberty  was  granted  that  was  con- 
sistent with  public  order,  and  therefore,  as  Gov- 
ernor Hopkins  has  said,  "  Roger  Williams  justly 
claims  the  honor  of  having  been  the  first  legislator 
in  the  world,  in  its  latter  ages,  that  fully  and  efiect- 
ually  provided  for,  and  established  a  full,  free,  and 
absolute  liberty  of  conscience." 

Notwithstanding  the  limitations  of  the  law  of 
Maryland,  if  it  should  excite  any  surprise  that  a 
statute  so  liberal  on  the  whole  should  have  been 
passed  there,  that  astonishment  will  be  lessened 
when  it  is  known  that  in  the  Provincial  Assembly 
were  many  Protestants.  Bozman  in  his  History  of 


LIBERALITY    OF    LORD    BALTIMORE.  65 

Maryland,  states  that "  there  are  strong  grounds  to 
believe  that  the  majority  of  the  members  of  this 
Assembly  of  1649  were  Protestants.  *  *  *  Gov- 
ernor Stone  and  a  majority  of  the  Council  were 
Protestants.  There  are  strong  reasons  for  a  sup- 
position that  a  majority  of  the  members  of  the  other 
House  of  Assembly  were  Protestants  also;  inas- 
much as  they  certainly  were  at  the  next  session  of 
1650.  We  may  then  fairly  presume  that  the  gov- 
ernor and  council  sitting  with  the  lower  house  at 
this  session  (for  they  were  not  yet  divided  into  two 
houses,  as  at  the  next  session)  made  a  majority  of 
Protestants.  The  acts  of  this  Assembly,  therefore, 
were  the  legislative  proceedings  of  Protestants." 

The  fact  that  this  law  was  approved  by  Lord  Bal- 
timore, who  was  a  Roman  Catholic,  although  it  was 
a  wide  departure  from  the  established  usages  of 
Roman  Catholic  governments  elsewhere,  furnishes 
evidence  that  he  was  a  man  of  liberal  principles, 
and  for  which  he  ought  to  receive  all  due  praise. 
6* 


CHAPTER    Y. 

taw  against  Stealing  One'«-self — Arbitrary  Distinction* — ••^sfluence  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Priests — Importance  of  little  IvL^vted^o — Peculiar 
Law — Curious  Definition  of  Drunkenness — Its  penal^-Law  enjoining 
Fasting — Laws  respecting  Tobacco  and  Corn — Corn  to  fr%  twice  shaken 
— Corn  Hand-mills — Saw-mill  destroyed  in  London — Rea*1)^^  for  Indian 
Fears — Ancient  Feuds  among  the  Indians — Indian  Opint us—  Collision 
with  the  Indians— Warlike  Preparations— The  Maquaute^Cats— The 
Patuxent  Indians— They  are  reconciled  and  protected. 

IN  addition  to  the  laws  which  are  alluded  to  in 
the  last  chapter,  there  were  a  number  of  others, 
that  were  passed  by  the  Assembly  of  Maryland,  in 
her  early  history,  that  shed  light  upon  the  peculiar 
features  of  those  times. 

In  1639  it  was  enacted  that  "stealth  of  otie^-self^ 
which  is  the  unlawful  departure  of  a  servant  out  of 
service,  or  out  of  the  colony,  without  the  privity  01 
consent  of  the  master  or  mistress,"  was  to  be  pun- 
ished with  "  the  pains  of  death  by  hanging,  except 
the  offender  can  read  clerk-like,  and  then  he  ^hal] 
lose  his  hand,  or  be  burned  in  the  hand  or  fore*- -Bad 
with  a  hot  iron,  and  forfeit  his  lands,  goods-,,  "^sid 
chattels."  This  forfeiture  of  property  was  to  sbe 
complete  (saving  to  the  widow,  her  dower,  air  bo 


HEADERS  EXEMPT  FROM  PUNISHMENT.     67 

the  heirs,  his  or  her  inheritance,  if  claims  be  mad* 
thereof  within  three  years  after  judgment  is  given). 
The  same  penalty  was  annexed  to  a  variety  of  other 
crimes,  which,  by  the  same  law,  were  declared  to 
be  felonies,  such  as  manslaughter,  malicious  tres- 
pass, cutting  out  another's  tongue,  forgery,  assault- 
ing the  lieutenant-general,  or  beating  or  assaulting 
any  judge,  witness,  or  juryman  in  court. 

It  will,  doubtless,  appear  to  the  reader  somewhat 
singular  that  the  extreme  penalty  of  death  could  be 
escaped  in  these  cases,  provided  the  criminal  "  could 
read  clerk-like."  If  two  individuals  were  convicted 
of  similar  crimes,  say  forgery,  manslaughter,  or 
stealing  himself,  one  of  whom  could  read,  and  the 
other  could  not,  the  former  would  escape  the  gal- 
lows, but  the  other  would  be  hung. 

In  accounting  for  this  arbitrary  distinction,  Boz- 
man  states  that  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy  had 
obtained  such  great  influence  over  most  of  the 
European  nations,  that  they  had  secured  for  them 
selves  an  exemption  from  all  punishments  aifixed  to 
crimes,  except  such  as  were  imposed  by  their  own 
ecclesiastical  tribunals.  "  This  privilege  originally 
annexed  to  their  order  by  the  ancient  Church,  was 
not  abrogated  in  England  by  the  Reformation.  It 
had  so  interwoven  itself  with  the  common  law  of 
the  realm,  that  a  total  abolition  of  even  so  odious 
an  exemption  became  almost  impossible."  As, 


68  PENALTIES    FOR   SWEARING. 

during  the  middle  ages,  the  ignorance  of  the 
masses  was  so  great  that  but  few  or  any  could 
read,  except  the  clergy,  the  ability  to  read  clerk- 
like,  or  like  a  clergyman,  was  regarded  as  conclu- 
sive evidence  that  the  reader  belonged  to  the 
clerical  profession,  and  was,  therefore,  entitled  to 
exemption  from  all  penalties,  except  those  fixed  by 
the  Church.  Hence  the  extraordinary  question 
when  about  to  pass  sentence  on  a  criminal,  "  Can 
he  read,  or  not  read  ?"  This  criterion  was  trans- 
ported across  the  Atlantic,  and  was  practiced  in  the 
early  history  of  Maryland,  so  that  an  offender's  life 
was  suspended  upon  the  question,  "  Can  he  read  or 
not  ?"  This  eminently  unjust  and  offensive  dis- 
tinction, continued  in  use  in  Maryland  till  the  com- 
mencement of  the  eighteenth  century  ! ! 

It  was  also  enacted  that  any  one  who  should 
remove  out  of  an  English  plantation  to  reside 
among  any  Indians  not  christened,  without  the 
consent  of  the  colonial  government,  should  be  im- 
prisoned. 

Swearing,  which  is  described  as  the  "  prophane 
adjuration  by  God,  or  some  holy  creature,"  should 
be  fined  five  pounds  of  tobacco,  or  one  shilling 
sterling. 

Various  nations  have  passed  laws  against  drunken- 
ness, but  in  not  a  few  instances  embarrassments  have 
arisen  in  the  execution  of  the  law,  arising  from  the 


LAW    RESPECTING   CORN.  69 

difficulty  of  deciding  whether  the  accused  was  really 
guilty  or  not.  What  is  drunkenness,  and  to  how 
great  a  degree  must  a  person  be  intoxicated,  before 
he  be  subjected  to  the  penalty  ?  are  questions  upon 
which  there  have  always  been  different  opinions. 

In  the  enactment  upon  this  subject  passed  by  the 
Assembly  of  Maryland,  an  attempt  was  made  to  de- 
fine the  offense,  as  follows : — "  Drunkenness,  which  is 
drinking  with  excess  to  the  notable  perturbation  of 
any  organ  of  sense  or  motion"  shall  be  punished 
with  a  fine  of  thirty  pounds  tobacco,  or  five  shillings 
sterling,  or  otherwise  the  offender  shall  be  whipped, 
or  by  some  other  corporal  shame  or  punishment  cor- 
rected for  every  such  excess  at  the  discretion  of  the 
judge. 

Eating  flesh  in  time  of  Lent,  or  on  other  days 
wherein  it  is  prohibited  by  the  law  of  England,  ex- 
cept in  case  of  sickness,  or  infirmity,  was  fined  five 
pounds  of  tobacco  or  one  shilling  sterling  for  every 
such  offense. 

Corn  was  an  essential  article  of  existence  in  Mary- 
land, and  as  there  was  danger  that,  if  the  Indians 
became  at  variance  with  the  whites,  they  would 
withhold  their  gram,  and,  by  so  doing,  subject  the 
colonists  to  great  distress,  it  was  considered  import- 
ant to  encourage  the  cultivation  of  this  article ;  ac- 
cordingly, it  was  enacted  that  "  any  person  planting 
tobacco,  was  yearly,  also,  to  plant  and  tend  two 


70  SHAKING    DOWN    CORN. 

acres  of  corn  for  his  own  food,  arid  two  acres  of 
corn  more  for  every  person  in  his  family  planting 
tobacco,  under  the  penalty  of  five  barrels  of  corn  or 
other  commodities,  to  the  value  thereof,  for  every 
two  acres  of  corn  wherein  he  shall  make  default." 
By  the  faithful  observance  of  this  law,  it  was  be- 
lieved that  they  would  be  to  a  great  degree,  if  not 
entirely,  independent  of  the  Indians  for  their  sup- 
plies of  grain. 

Another  law,  which  was  passed  at  the  same  ses- 
sion, regulated  the  manner  of  measuring  this  article, 
which  will  strike  the  uninitiated  as  somewhat  pecu- 
liar ; — it  reads  as  follows  :  "  And  all  contracts  made 
for  payment  in  corn,  shall  be  understood  of  corn 
shelled;  and  a  barrel  of  new  corn  tendered  in  pay- 
ment at,  or  afore  the  fifteenth  day  of  October  in  any 
year  shall  be  twice  shaked  in  the  barrel  and  after- 
ward heaped  as  long  as  it  will  lie  on  ;  and  at  or 
before  the  feast  of  the  nativity,  shall  be  twice  shaJc- 
ed  and  filled  to  the  edge  of  the  barrel,  or  else  not 
shaked,  and  heaped  as  before;  and  after  tne  said 
feast,  it  shall  not  be  shaked  at  all,  but  delivered  by 
strike." 

Having  obtained  corn,  the  next  thing  was  to 
grind  it  and  convert  it  to  meal.  For  this  purpose 
small  hand-mills  were  in  use.  But  as  this  furnished 
a  slow  process  for  providing  the  requisite  amount  of 
meal,  it  was  necessary  that  a  large  mill  should  be 


SAW-MILL   DESTROYED.  71 

erected.  There  being  no  men  of  capital  among  the 
colonists  who  were  disposed  to  invest  their  money 
in  Ji  mill,  as  a  business  speculation,  it  was  enacted 
that  "Any  bargain  which  the  lieutenant-general 
and  council  shall  make  with  any  undertaker,  for  the 
setting  up  of  a  water  mill  for  the  use  of  this  colony, 
shall  be  levied  upon  all  inhabitants  of  the  colony  in 
such  manner  as  the  lieutenant-general  and  council 
shall  appoint,  so  it  exceed  not  ten  thousand  pounds 
tobacco  in  a  year  for  two  years  only."  Thus  the 
whole  colony  were  taxed  for  funds  to  erect  a  water- 
mill. 

It  is  an  interesting  coincidence  that  the  first  water 
mill  built  in  Massachusetts  was  not  erected  until  aftei 
that  colony  had  been  in  existence  about  as  long  as  the 
colony  of  Maryland  had  been,  when  this  mill  was 
built ;  and  the  same  year  of  the  erection  of  the  one 
in  Massachusetts,  which  was  1633,  a  saw-mill  is 
said  to  have  been  built  near  London,  but  as  it  was 
unpopular,  being  regarded  as  a  machine  which  would 
deprive  many  of  the  poor  of  the  employment  by 
which  they  obtained  a  livelihood,  it  was  destroyed, 
perhaps  under  the  influence  of  mob-law. 

Thus  far  the  colony  of  Maryland  had  succeeded 
in  keeping  on  such  friendly  terms  with  the  Indians 
that  there  had  been  no  serious  outbreak  between 
them.  In  this  respect  they  had  been  more  success- 
ful than  the  other  Amerijan  colonies.  But  about 


72  INDIAN   APPREHENSIONS. 

the  year  1639  these  pacific  relations  were  inter- 
rupted. 

The  more  thoughtful  and  experienced  among  the 
aborigines  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  appeared  to 
foresee  their  approaching  doom,  provided  these 
white  intruders  upon  their  soil  were  allowed  to  in- 
crease. 

To  their  untutored  mind,  the  settlement  and 
habits  of  these  strangers  must  have  been  invested 
with  great  mystery.  They  were  introduced  among 
them  in  a  surprising  manner,  coming  as  they  did  in 
great  floating  houses,  with  apparently  many  white 
wings  which  they  could  fold  or  open  at  pleasure ; 
their  pale  color,  their  superior  attainments  in  do- 
mestic life  and  manufactures,  their  miraculous 
weapons  which  breathed  fire,  spoke  thunder,  and 
sent  invisible  balls  with  resistless  force  ;  the  fact, 
too,  that  they  came  from  unknown  lands  beyond 
the  sea,  and  might,  for  aught  they  knew,  be  exceed- 
ingly numerous — all  these  considerations  served  to 
impart,  in  their  view,  a  deep  tinge  of  the  marvel- 
ous to  the  coming  of  these  uninvited  strangers,  and 
must  also  have  made  them  anxious  to  be  relieved  of 
their  presence.  Another  thing  which  served  to  in- 
crease the  unpopularity  of  the  English,  was  thek  in- 
terference with  the  difficulties  which  existed  be- 
tween different  native  tribes,  and  their  attempts  to 
prevent  wars  between  them.  These  tribes  being 


INDIAN    CODE    OF   MORALS.  73 

composed  of  barbarous  people,  took  delight  in  the 
excitements  of  war.  Their  code  of  morals  not  only 
justified  but  required  revenge.  Insult  was  not 
allowed  to  pass  with  impunity.  Blood  must  be 
wiped  out  with  blood.  As  there  were  ancient  feuds 
existing  between  different  tribes,  whenever  any  of 
those  tribes  met,  their  erroneous  motives  of  honor, 
patriotism,  and  religion,  rendered  it  obligatory 
upon  them  to  sound  the  startling  war-whop,  rush  at 
once  into  bloody  conflict,  and  destroy  as  many  of 
their  long-standing  enemies  as  possible.  They 
deemed  themselves  culpable,  if  they  allowed  them 
to  escape  without  an  effort  for  their  destruction. 
It  is  evident  that  every  such  collision  added  to  the 
previously  existing  causes  of  hatred  between  them, 
and  increased  the  obligation  of  survivors  to  seek  re- 
venge. Interference  in  these  matters  on  the  part 
of  foreigners  was  peculiarly  offensive  to  many  of 
these  wild  knights  of  the  arrow,  the  twang  of  whose 
bow-string,  mingling  with  the  shrieks  of  those  to 
whom  it  had  sent  death,  was  the  most  grateful 
sound  that  fell  upon  their  ears. 

It  was  about  this  time,  1639,  that  certain  signs 
of  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  the  Indians  toward 
the  whites  began  to  be  manifested.  At  this  period 
also  it  is  supposed  those  plots  began  to  be  formed 
which  resulted  in  the  dreadful  massacre  in  Vir- 
7 


74  COLLISION   WITH    THE   INDIANS. 

ginia,*  when  the  notorious  chief  Opechancanough 
secured  the  sudden  slaughter  of  some  hundreds  of 
unsuspecting  whites. 

In  Maryland  the  powerful  Susquehanocks  were 
at  war  with  the  Piscattoway  and  Patuxent  Indians, 
and  probably  with  the  Yoamacoes.  These  three, 
latter  tribes  were  on  friendly  terras  with  the  En- 
glish.  The  colonists  therefore  sympathized  with 
them  in  the  conflict,  and  interested  themselves  to 
prevent  the  incursions  of  the  Susquehanocks  against 
them.  This  of  course  was  not  agreeable  to  the  Sus* 
quehanocks  who,  Indian-like,  would  be  disposed  to 
suspect  the  English  of  taking  sides  with  the  enemy. 
Certain  unknown  Indians  on  the  eastern  shore  were 
also  hostile.  The  consequence  was  that  the  colony 
incurred  the  anger  of  the  aggressive  tribe,  and  be- 
came involved  in  the  conflict. 

All  was  now  anxiety  and  excitement.  At  what 
point,  in  what  manner,  or  at  what  time  the  mur- 
derous barbarians  might  come  down  upon  the  En- 
glish like  a  destructive  avalanche,  was  unknown.  It 
was  deemed  best  not  to  wait  for  them,  but  putting 
on  a  bold  front  and  making  an  incursion  upon  their 
own  soil,  convince  them  that  the  English  had  no 
fear  of  the  issue.  It  was  accordingly  ordered  that 
a  u  shallop  be  sent  to  Virginia  for  to  provide  twenty 

*  An  account  of  this  massacre  we  have  given  in  the  "First 
Explorers  of  North  America." 


WAB   WITH   THE   MAQUANTEQUATS.  75 

corselets,*  a  barrel  of  powder,  four  roundlets  of  shot, 
a  barrel  of  oatmeal,  three  firkins  of  butter,  and  four 
cases  of  hot  waters ;  and  that  five  able  persons  be 
pressed  to  go  with  the  said  shallop,  and  necessary 
provisions  of  victuals  be  made  for  them."  It  was 
also  ordered  that  a  pinnace  should  be  pressed  to  go 
to  the  Isle  of  Kent  and  provide  four  hogsheads  of 
meal,  and  that  another  should  be  sent  against  the 
Susquehariocks,  sufficiently  victualed  and  manned, 
and  thirty  or  more  good  marksmen,  with  an  ade- 
quate number  of  suitable  officers;  and  that  each 
marksman  be  allowed  at  the  rate  of  a  hundred  pounds 
of  tobacco  per  month,  or  another  man  in  his  place 
to  take  care  of  his  plantation,  and  two  sergeants 
who  should  receive  double  that  rate.  Two  pinnaces 
and  one  skiff,  if  necessary,  and  good  laboring  hands 
be  pressed  to  supply  the  places  of  such  planters  as 
shall  be  pressed  upon  the  service,  and  be  allowed  at 
the  same  rate  of  one  hundred  pounds  per  month." 

In  addition  to  these  arrangements  for  an  aggress- 
ive movement,  the  colonists,  and  especially  those 
at  St.  Mary's,  were  placed  in  a  better  state  of  de- 
fense. All  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony  able  to 
bear  arms  were  required  to  train  that  they  might 
"  learn  the  art  and  discipline  of  war." 

What  military  operations  against  the  Indians  dur- 
ing the  year  were  the  results  of  these  arrangements 
*  A  corselet  was  a  piece  of  armor  for  the  front  of  the  body 


76         THE  PATUXENTS  RECONCILED. 

we  are  not  informed,  but  from  a  commission  which 
was  issued  next  year  to  Nicholas  Hervey,  it  seems 
that  hostilities  had  not  entirely  ceased.  For  by 
this  commission  Hervey  was  authorized  to  go 
with  not  less  than  twelve  men,  well  provided  with 
arms,  against  the  Maqnantequats  only  and  "  exe- 
cute and  inflict  what  may  be  inflicted  by  the 
law  of  war."  It  wo-uld  appear  from  the  limits  of 
this  commission  to  make  war  only  on  the  Maquan- 
tequats,  that  friendly  relations  had  been  brought 
about  between  the  English  and  the  other  tribes. 

We  know  that  this  was  the  case  with  reference 
to  the  Patuxent  Indians,  because  a  proclamation 
was  issued,  bearing  date  January  24,  1639,  which 
stated :  "  We  are  in  peace  and  unity  with  the  Pa- 
tuxent Indians  our  neighbors,  and  have  taken  them 
into  our  protection,  and  therefore  do  prohibit  all 
English  whatsoever  within  our  province  of  Mary- 
land, for  the  time  being,  that  they  do  not  oifer  any 
injury  or  outrage  whatsoever,  to  any  of  the  said  In- 
dians upon  pain  of  such  punishment  as  the  offens* 
shall  deserve." 


CHAPTER  TI. 

Colonies  multiplied — Captain  Lucas  Fox — His  Voyage  to  the  Northern 
Eegions — Dangers  from  the  Ice — How  Icebergs  are  formed — Descrip- 
tion of  a  Sea  Unicorn— Variation  of  the  Needle— Reasons  for  it— Geo- 
logical Discovery— A  White  Bear  floating  upon  Ice— Its  pursuit  and 
Capture — Petty  Dancers — Hunting  Swans  and  Seals — Graves  discovered 
— Dog  hunting  a  Stag — School  of  Whales — A  Dun  Fox — Remains  of 
Captain  Button's  Dwellings— Going  a  Berrying— A  Cross  found— Seeking 
a  Main-yard— The  Maria  met  with— Fox  names  various  Places— Fox's 
Return. 

WHILE  the  events,  which  are  narrated  in  the  pre- 
ceding chapters,  were  transpiring  within  the  limits 
of  Maryland,  efforts  were  being  made  to  push  dis- 
coveries and  establish  settlements  in  other  places  on 
the  North  American  coast.  To  some  of  the  more 
important  of  these  it  is  proper  that  we  now  refer. 

Plymouth  in  New  England  was  settled  in  1620. 
Within  a  few  years  other  settlements  were  formed 
in  New  England,  as  at  Cape  Ann,  Salem,  and  Bos- 
ton. Colonies  had  also  been  established  at  James- 
town and  other  places  in  Virginia.  The  old  idea 
of  a  North-west  passage  to  India  was  still  cherished, 
and  expeditions  were  sent  out  to  confirm  or  explode 
its  practicability.  In  1631  the  same  year  that  Clay- 
borne  first  planted  himself  upon  the  island  of  Kent 
7* 


78  LUCAS   FOX. 

in  Maryland,  an  enterprise  was  projected  in  England 
for  explorations  along  the  north-east  coast  of  Amer- 
ica, with  a  view  to  the  discovery  of  the  famous 
Northern  passage.  It  was  placed  under  the  direction 
of  Lucas  Fox,  a  seaman  of  great  experience,  of  whom 
it  might  be  said  that  for  many  years  "  his  path  was 
upon  the  mountain  wave,  his  home  upon  the  deep." 

Being  disappointed  in  1606  in  not  going  as  mate 
with  Captain  John  Knight  upon  a  voyage  of  discov- 
ery to  the  north,  as  he  had  expected  to,  he,  from 
that  time,  diligently  collected  all  the  information 
he  could  possibly  obtain,  by  a  careful  perusal  of  all 
the  voyages  which  had  been  made  to  the  northern 
frigid  zone,  and  from  conversations  with  men  who 
themselves  had  seen  the  ice  mountains  and  felt  the 
sub-zeroic  cold  of  those  frozen  regions. 

King  Charles  I.,  being  informed  of  the  contem- 
plated voyage  of  discovery,  graciously  added  a  ship 
of  his  own,  which  he  fitted  with  necessaries,  and 
manned  with  able-bodied  seamen  in  the  most  com- 
plete manner. 

When  Captain  Fox  was  introduced  into  tne  pres- 
ence of  his  royal  patron,  his  majesty  kindly  pre- 
sented him  with  a  map,  on  which  were  marked  all 
the  discoveries  which  had  then  been  made.  The 
degree  of  hope  which  the  king  entertained  that 
Fox  would  make  the  discovery  of  the  north-west 
passage  may  be  inferred  from  his  giving  to  him  a 


FOX'S   VOYAGE   OF   DISCOVERY.  79 

letter  to  the  Emperor  of  Japan,  to  be  delivered  in 
case  he  should  reach  the  South  Sea  by  the  passage 
he  was  going  out  to  discover. 

All  things  being  arranged  under  the  most  favor- 
able circumstances,  Captain  Fox  set  sail  from  Dept- 
ford  on  the  5th  of  May,  1631,  in  a  ship  of  only 
eighty  tons  burden,  called,  perhaps,  after  its  royal 
owner,  "  The  Charles."  On.  the  tenth  day  out,  he  had 
the  misfortune  to  break  his  main-yard,  which  obliged 
him  to  put  into  the  Orkneys  for  repairs.  But  being 
unable  to  procure  a  new  main-yard  there,  he  was 
compelled  to  continue  his  voyage  in  this  maimed 
condition.  Passing  Cape  Farewell,  the  southern 
point  of  Greenland,  he  continued  his  course  a.  little 
north  of  west,  in  order  to  reach  Hudson's  Straits. 
As  he  approached  it  he  saw  that  the  sea  before  him 
was  dotted  with  islands,  or  large  pieces  of  floating 
ice.  He  now  had  to  redouble  his  vigilance  to  avoid 
coming  in  collision  with  them,  as  a  comparatively 
slight  blow  of  one  of  these  huge  masses  would  have 
been  sufficient  to  dash  a  hole  in  the  vessel  and  sink 
her  to  the  bottom.  After  groping  his  way  through 
the  floating  ice  as  well  as  he  was  able,  for  a  number 
of  days,  his  eyes  were  finally  cheered  with  a  distant 
view  of  terra-firma.  It  proved  to  be  land  on  the 
north  side  of  Lumley's  Inlet,  probably  Cape  Eliza- 
beth, the  south-eastern  point  of  the  Island  of  Good 
Fortune.  He  was  desirous  of  passing  through 


80  ICEBERGS. 

Lumley's  Inlet  into  Davis's  Straits,  but  he  found, 
although  it  was  summer,  so  much  ice  as  to  make 
the  attempt  dangerous.  He  directed  his  course  to 
the  Button  Islands,  several  small  islands  on  the 
northern  coast  of  Labrador.  The  morning  of  the 
23d  opened  with  a  heavy  fog,  but  in  the  middle 
of  the  day,  the  rays  of  the  sun  poured  down  with 
such  power  that  not  only  was  the  surrounding  ice 
converted  rapidly  into  water,  but  the  pitch  on  the 
sides  of  the  vessel  began  also  to  melt — so  sudden 
and  great  was  the  transition  from  cold  to  heat.  This 
unusual  warmth  lasted,  however,  but  a  short  time. 
The  strait  continued  to  be  filled  with  immense 
quantities  of  ice  of  two  kinds ;  first,  mountainous, 
composed  of  large,  irregular  shaped  masses,  rising 
from  sixty  to  a  hundred  and  twenty  feet  above  the 
surface  of  the  water.  When  the  rays  of  the  sun 
shone  upon  them,  they  were  extremely  beautiful, 
presenting  every  variety  of  castelated  appearance, 
and  reflecting  all  the  hues  of  the  rainbow ;  the  other 
was  termed  flaked  ice,  and  consisted  of  thin  flat 
cakes  of  every  variety  of  shape  and  size,  from  a 
rood  to  several  acres  square.  On  the  30th  of  June 
they  passed  by  one  of  these  flakes,  on  which  was  a 
quantity  of  earth  and  several  stones,  one  of  which 
weighing,  as  was  supposed,  five  or  six  tons.  An  in- 
teresting question  which  has  excited  the  attention 
of  scientific  men  is,  how  are  these  ice-mountains 


DISCOVERIES    ON   TERRA   NTVEA.  81 

formed  ?  Their  explanation  as  given  by  Mr.  John 
Reinhold  Foster  is  as  follows :  "  These  mountains  of 
ice  are  formed  on  the  shore,  by  the  snow  which  the 
wind  blows  on  to  the  steep  brow  of  some  high 
mountain,  to  which  it  adheres,  and  is  compacted 
into  a  firm  and  solid  piece  of  ice,  which,  in  the 
spring,  becomes  loose  at  the  approach  of  a  thaw,  and 
rolls  into  the  sea,  carrying  with  it  the  earth,  stones, 
mud  and  trees  which  it  before  enveloped."  "  One 
night  a  mountain  of  ice  came  driving  straight  on  to- 
•R  ard  the  ship,  as  it  was  deeper  under  water  than 
tKe  flaked  ice,  the  current  consequently  made  it 
drive  faster  than  the  latter,  some  of  which  was  be- 
tween the  ship  and  the  mountain,  else  this  huge 
mass,  being  already  perforated  by  the  action  of  the 
water  upon  it,  in  consequence  of  its  percussion 
against  the  ship,  might  have  burst ;  when  the 
broken  pieces  falling  into  the  vessel,  might  easily 
have  sunk  it,  as  this  mountain  was  nine  or  ten 
fathoms,  that  is  from  fifty-four  to  sixty  feet  above 
water,  and  who  can  say  how  much  under  it  ?" 

On  July  1st,  Fox  was  opposite  to  another  island 
near  the  Resolution  Islands,  which  was  called  by 
some  Terra  Nivea.  The  weather  was  hot,  sultry, 
and  calm,  a  kind  of  dog-day.  They  could  not  start 
the  vessel  for  want  of  wind.  On  the  4th  he  sent 
some  men  ashore,  who  found  several  deserted  huts 
which  had  been  formerly  occupied  by  natives,  some 
4* 


fc2  A   GEOLOGICAL   DISCOVEEY. 

driftwood,  and  the  footprints  of  animals,  supposed 
to  "be  stags.  On  the  20th  he  came  upon  a  quantity 
of  sea  unicorns,  one  of  which  was  nine  feet  long, 
black  back,  flat  tail,  transverse  with  respect  to  the 
ridge,  and  indented  between  its  two  peaked  ends, 
its  sides  were  black  and  white  dappled ;  its  belly, 
white  ;  the  general  shape  of  the  body  resembled  a 
mackerel ;  its  head  like  that  of  a  lobster,  on  the 
front  of  which  was  a  wreathed  horn,  six  feet  long, 
entirely  black,  except  a  small  portion  at  the  tip. 

On  the  15th  of  July,  Fox  observed  that  the 
needle  no  longer  pointed  north.  It  had  lost  its 
power.  He  supposed  that  this  phenomenon  was 
caused  by  the  metallic  quality  of  neighboring 
mountains,  or  from  the  want  of  motion  in  the  ship, 
or  from  the  cold  benumbing  the  needle  as  it  be- 
numbs sentient  beings,  or  from  the  sharpness  of  the 
air  between  the  needle  and  its  attractive  point,  by 
which  the  attractive  force  was  neutralized.  He 
was  now  in  the  latitude  of  sixty-three  degrees  and 
twelve  minutes,  near  Nottingham  Island. 

He  here  made  a  discovery  of  considerable  geo- 
logical interest.  He  noticed  that  three  neighbor- 
ing  islands  which  lay  near  the  mouth  of  Hudson's 
Straits,  called  Resolution,  Salisbury  and  Notting- 
ham, were  all  of  them  high  on  their  eastern,  and 
low  on  their  western  side.  "This  physico-geo- 
graphical  observation,"  says  Forster,  "is  of  the 


WHITE   BEAR    HUNT.  83 

highest  importance,  and  seems  to  me  to  prove  that 
at  that  time,  when  the  sea  burst  impetuously  into 
Hudson's  Bay,  and  tore  away  these  islands  from 
the  mainland,  it  must  have  come  rushing  from  the 
east  and  south  east,  and  have  washed  away  the 
earth  toward  the  west ;  a  circumstance  which  has 
occasioned  their  present  low  position."  If  the 
reader  will  take  the  trouble  to  look  on  a  map,  and 
notice  the  general  direction  of  Hudson's  Straits,  he 
will  see  that  the  above  conjecture  is  not  entirely 
unreasonable. 

The  same  day  that  this  discovery  was  made,  the 
navigators  saw  many  sea-horses.  On  the  18th, 
being  near  a  part  of  the  mainland  known  as  Gary's 
Swan's  Nest,  a  new  object  presented  itself,  which 
created  a  high  degree  of  excitement  among  the 
men,  and  furnished  them  with  considerable  sport : 
this  was  a  large  white  bear  floating  upon  a  cake  of 
ice.  All  hands  were  soon  either  upon  the  deck  or 
among  the  rigging,  making  their  observations  upon 
the  appearance  and  behavior  of  this  marine  bruin. 
Presently  it  was  proposed  that  they  should  endeav- 
or to  take  him.  Immediately  the  whole  crew  were 
in  commotion,  and  impatient  for  the  chase.  All 
were  anxious  to  share  in  the  pleasure  and  the 
honor  of  taking  this  white-robed  king  of  the  north. 
This,  however,  was  no  easy  task.  Much  time  and 
maneuvering  were  spent  before  they  succeeded  in 


84  SWAN   AND    SEAL    HUNTING. 

inflicting  the  fatal  wound,  and  securing  the  victory. 
After  dispatching  the  huge  animal,  their  next 
business  was  to  carve  and  dispose  of  it.  This  being 
done,  they  tried  out  its  fat,  and  obtained  from  it 
forty-eight  gallons  of  oil.  Its  flesh,  when  boiled, 
they  found  to  be  palatable,  but  when  roasted  it  had 
a  rank,  fishy  flavor. 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  a  dark  streak 
girdled  the  horizon,  and  certain  lights,  or  meteors, 
called  the  Henbanes  or  Petty  Dancers,  were  seen 
flashing  and  waltzing  at  the  north.  These  were 
regarded  by  Fox  as  the  pioneers  of  a  storm  which 
would  show  itself  within  twenty-four  hours.  He 
was  mistaken ;  that  time  passed  away  and  no 
storm  came. 

When  they  arrived  at  Carey's  Swan's  Nest,  they 
engaged  in  another  kind  of  sport,  which  was  the 
pursuit  of  swans.  They  were  not,  however,  so  suc- 
cessful with  these  as  with  the  bear.  As  the  place 
abounded  with  marshes,  brooks  and  pools,  with  all 
of  which  the  birds  were  familiar ;  as,  too,  the  game 
was  both  shy  and  swift,  the  sportsmen,  though  they 
chased  many,  were  unable  to  obtain  one.  On  the 
24th  a  number  of  seals  presented  themselves.  The 
27th  was  distinguished  for  the  elevated  temperature 
of  the  air.  It  was  warm  even  in  the  night.  An 
island  was  discovered  on  the  west  side  of  Hudson's 
Bay  which  they  named  Sir  Thomas  Roe's  Welcome. 


DOG   HUNTING    A.    STAG.  85 

They  discovered  some  graves  of  the  natives,  and 
found  in  them  spears  headed  with  iron  and  copper. 
The  next  day  the  surface  of  the  sea  was  broken  in 
various  directions  by  large  numbers  of  fish  leaping 
in  the  water.  A  whale  and  many  seals  were  seen. 

It  was  not  long  before  Fox  came  to  another  island, 
which  he  described  as  a  "  white  island,"  which  he 
called  after  Sir  John  Brook,  who  was  interested  in 
the  enterprise,  Brook  Cobham.  It  subsequently  re- 
ceived the  name  of  Marble  Island.  Swans,  ducks  and 
other  aquatic  birds  abounded  here  in  great  numbers. 

They  had  on  board  the  vessel  a  dog.  To  give  him 
exercise  and  to  use  him  in  hunting,  the  quarter- 
master took  him  on  shore,  where  he  soon  started  a 
reindeer,  and  immediately  took  after  it.  The  chase 
continued  a  long  time,  but  finally,  the  dog  brought 
the  deer  to  a  stand.  The  animal  might  then  have 
been  killed ;  but  unfortunately  the  quarter-master 
had  neither  gun  nor  spear,  and  was  therefore  obliged 
to  let  him  escape.  So  long  and  violent  had  been 
the  pursuit,  that  the  feet  both  of  the  deer  and  the 
dog  were  torn,  and  bled  profusely.  Near  the  island 
were  a  large  school  of  whales  lying  so  motionless, 
that  Fox  concluded  they  were  asleep.  Fox  contin- 
ued his  course  along  the  western  coast  off  the  main- 
land, which  was  protected  by  many  small  dangerous 
rocks.  On  the  20th*  he  visited  a  small  island,  on 

*  This  is  the  date  as  given  by  Forster.  If  the  narrative  wasi 
8 


STAG   AND   FOX    HUNTING. 

which  were  many  sea-fowl.  Here  he  struck  a  sea- 
horse, perhaps  the  walrus,  with  his  lance,  but  it  waa 
too  strong  for  him  to  capture  alone,  and  so  fled. 


DOG  HUNTING  A  STAG. 


He  was  more  fortunate  with  an  arctic  or  dun-fox, 
which  he  pursued,  and  which  he  succeeded  in  taking 
alive.  He  also  obtained  a  large  quantity  of  scuf  vy- 

as  it  appears  to  be,  chronological,  this  ought  to  be,  probably,  the 
thirtieth. 


CAPTAIN  BUTTON'S  DWELLINGS.  87 

grass,  and  took  it  on  board.  He  there  had  the  juice 
pressed  out,  and  poured  into  a  hogshead  of  beer, 
and  ordered  that  everyone  of  the  crew  who  desired 
it  might  have  a  pint  to  drink  every  morning;  but 
none  of  them  would  touch  it  till  it  was  entirely 
spoiled  and  they  were  all  greatly  diseased  with  the 
scurvy,  for  which  it  was  believed  to  be  a  prevent- 
ive. This  island  was  named  Dun  Fox  island. 

On  the  31st  he  reached  a  cluster  of  islands  which 
he  called  Briggs's  Mathematics.  On  the  9th  of 
August  he  entered  the  river  Nelson,  at  the  mouth 
of  which  he  saw  several  white  whales.  Here  he  set 
up  a  pinnace,  and  upon  looking  around  he  found 
the  remains  of  some  winter  dwellings,  which  had 
been  erected  by  Captain  Button,  who  visited  this 
place  in  1612.  On  the  15th  the  weather  was  very 
hot.  Passing  up  the  river,  the  crew  on  the  17th 
went  a-berrying,  and  were  successful  in  finding 
blackberries,  strawberries,  gooseberries  and  vetches. 
They  also  saw  the  foot-prints  of  a  stag,  and  near  by 
the  wooden  framework  of  a  tent,  that  had  the  appear- 
ance of  having  been  recently  erected.  As  they  looked 
around  they  saw  a  fireplace,  the  bones  of  birds  and 
the  hair  of  deer,  with  other  indications  that  the  place 
had  been  occupied  by  men  not  a  great  while  before ; 
but  who  they  were,  how  many  they  were,  for  what 
purpose  they  had  been  there,  or  where  they  had 
gone,  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  tell.  Various 


88  THE   MAEIA   MET   WITH. 

opinions  were  given  by  the  men,  but  nothing  could 
be  confirmed  with  certainty.  They  found  a  cross 
overturned,  which  had  been  erected  by  Captain 
Button  as  evidence  of  his  having  visited  the  place 
and  taken  possession  of  it  in  the  name  of  his  monarch. 
This  was  to  the  adventurers  an  interesting  object. 
Fox  engraved  an  inscription  upon  a  leaden  plate, 
nailed  this  upon  the  cross,  and  then  re-erected  it  for 
the  benefit  of  any  other  voyagers  who  might  in  future 
visit  this  spot.  He  also  named  the  place  New  Wales. 
It  being  now  important  that  the  main-yard  which 
had  been  lost  should  be  replaced,  the  carpenter 
was  sent  on  shore  to  cut  down  five  of  the  best  trees, 
which  had  been  marked  by  the  captain  as  suitable 
for  the  purpose.  The  carpenter  found  them  to  be 
of  tolerable  size,  round,  but  very  short,  as  all  the 
trees  in  that  region  seem  to  be  dwarfed  by  the 
cold.  By  fastening  the  timber  of  several  of  them 
together,  it  appeared  probable  that  he  might  be 
able  to  furnish  a  new  main-yard.  But,  alas,  he  was 
doomed  to  experience  disappointment.  Of  the  five 
trees  which  had  been  designated  by  the  captain, 
not  one  was  suitable  for  the  purpose,  as  they  were 
all  decayed  within.  Fox  now  coasted  toward  the 
east,  and  on  the  29th  of  August  he  fell  in  with 
another  English  vessel.  It  was  to  him  and  his  men 
a  source  of  great  delight  to  know  that  they  were 
not  alone  in  those  northern,  inhospitable  regions. 


NARROW   ESCAPE   FROM    SHIPWRECK.  89 

When  the  men  in  the  two  vessels  discovered  each 
other,  they  were  mutually  anxious  to  visit  each 
other,  and  exchange  an  account  of  their  adventures 
and  discoveries.  The  new  vessel  proved  to  be  the 
"  Maria,"  of  seventy  tons  burden,  commanded  by 
Captain  Thomas  James,  which  had  left  Bristol  in 
England  two  days  before  Captain  Fox  left  Dept- 
ford,  and  for  the  same  purpose — of  discovering,  if 
possible,  a  north-west  passage  to  India.  They  were 
both  aware  of  each  other's  design  before  they  left 
home,  and  it  was  the  intention  of  their  owners  that 
the  two  vessels  should  have  sailed  together  on  the 
expedition,  and  yet  this  was  the  first  time  they  had 
met.  After  having  an  opportunity  of  conversation 
a  short  time,  they  parted.  On  the  2d  of  Septem- 
ber, Fox  came  to  Cape  Henrietta  Maria,  where  the 
direction  of  the  coast  changed  from  east  to  south. 
This  cape  is  the  north-western  corner  of  James's 
Bay.  Having  satisfied  himself  that  there  was  no 
westerly  passage  into  the  Pacific  Ocean  along  the 
coast  which  he  had  thus  far  examined,  Fox  desired 
to  make  another  attempt  beyond  Nottingham 
Island,  where,  before,  he  could  not  penetrate,  on 
account  of  the  ice.  On  the  6th,  the  captain  and 
the  boatswain  were  both  unwell.  On  the  7th, 
they  had  a  narrow  escape  from  being  stranded,  and 
perhaps  wrecked,  on  Carey's  Swan's  Nest,  the 
southern  point  of  the  island  of  Southampton.  On 
8* 


90  FOX'S   RETURN. 

the  15th  the  vessel  was  managed  with  difficulty,  on 
account  of  the  sails  being  frozen  stiff.  On  the  1 8th 
he  saw  an  elevated  cape,  to  which  he  gave  the 
name  of  King  Charles's  Promontory,  to  the  north- 
west of  which  were  three  islands,  forming  a  triangle, 
which  he  called  the  Trinity  Islands,  after  the 
brethren  of  the  Trinity  House.  He  also  named 
various  other  capes,  islands,  and  inlets,  which  it  is 
not  necessary  here  to  specify,  and  then  set  out  on 
his  return  home.  On  the  5th  of  October,  the  cold 
being  severe,  the  decks,  sides,  rigging,  and  sails  of 
the  vessel  were  completely  coated  in  ice,  giving  it 
the  appearance  of  a  glass  ship.  Having  reached 
the  Atlantic,  the  captain  perceived  that  a  strong 
current  was  sweeping  him  rapidly  to  the  south. 
He,  however,  soon  got  out  of  it,  crossed  the  At- 
lantic, sailed  through  the  British  Channel,  and 
reached  the  Downs  on  the  31st  of  October.  So 
fortunate  had  he  been,  that  he  had  not  lost  a  single 
man,  and  with  the  exception  of  his  main-yard,  he 
had  met  with  no  serious  accident  to  his  vessel. 
He  had  not,  however,  discovered,  the  north-west 
passage ! 

As  the  experience  of  Captain  James  was  of  a 
Bomewhat  different  character  from  that  of  Fox,  and 
as  the  account  of  his  adventures  is  far  more  interest- 
ing, a  detailed  narrative  of  them  will  be  given  in  tho 
next  chapter. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Captain  James  sails  for  the  North— His  trying  Position— He  is  frozen  In— 
James's  Ignorance — Dangers  to  which  it  leads — Encamping  for  the  Win- 
ter— Peculiar  Features  of  a  Northern  Winter — The  Scurvy — Its  Symp- 
toms—Effects of  Extreme  Cold— Difficulty  of  Working— Thawing  Trees 
— Medical  treatment — A  Singular  Phenomenon — Finding  the  Eudder — 
Disappointment— Difficulties  multiply — Sick  recovering — Homeward 
departure — False  Facts. 

CAPTAIN  THOMAS  JAMES,  under  the  patronage 
of  certain  wealthy  merchants  of  Bristol,  sailed  in  a 
strong  built  ship,  called  "  The  Maria,"  of  only  seventy 
tons,  on  th£  3d  of  May,  1631.  On  the  tenth  of 
June  he  was  oif  Cape  Desolation.  Many  islands  of 
ice  were  floating  in  various  directions,  and  among 
them  numerous  grampuses  were  sporting.  With 
a  sea  of  an  inky  appearance  beneath  them,  and  a 
perpetual,  thick,  and  offensive-smelling  fog  around 
them,  their  condition  was  far  from  being  pleas- 
ant. On  the  17th  they  came  in  sight  of  Reso- 
lution Island,  placed  at  the  entrance  of  Hudson's 
Straits. 

Here  he  noticed  that  the  motion  of  his  needle 
was  embarrassed,  a  circumstance  which  he  attributed 
to  the  heavy  fogs.  His  ship  was  now  encrusted  with 


92  THE   MARIA   FROZE   IN. 

ice,  though  this  was  not  the  worst  of  his  condition, 
for  mountains  and  flakes,  or  large  cakes  of  ice 
were  floating  in  every  direction,  which  rendered  it 
extremely  difficult  for  him  to  make  headway,  and 
finally  stopped  him  entirely.  The  ice  then  closed  in 
around  the  vessel,  and  froze  together,  thus  shutting 
him  completely  in.  He  was  now  drifted  hither  and 
thither  whithersoever  the  ice  floated.  His  condi- 
tion was  extremely  perilous.  The  captain  seems  to 
have  been  either  a  self-conceited,  or  else  an  ignorant 
man,  or  perhaps  both.  Two  facts  which  are  related 
of  him  seem  almost  incredible.  The  first  is,  that  he 
was  entirely  unacquainted  with  the  voyages  which 
others  had  made  before  him  to  the  north,  and  there- 
fore knew  not  the  method  which  they  adopted  to 
relieve  themselves  from  difficulties  similar  to  those 
in  which  he  was  now  placed.  Far  different  was  it 
with  Captain  Fox  ;  he  availed  himself  of  every  op- 
portunity to  gain  knowledge  respecting  the  dangers 
and  the  different  modes  of  escape  which  were 
adopted  in  these  northern  seas.  Before  he  left 
England,  he  knew  probably  all  that  could  be  learned 
concerning  the  navigation  of  those  waters,  without 
a  personal  experience  of  them.  In  that  respect, 
therefore,  he  was  well  fitted  for  their  exploration. 
The  other  peculiarity  in  the  case  of  Captain  James 
was,  that  he  had  designedly  refused  engaging  any 
men  as  sailors  who  had,  previously  to  this,  made 


MEETS   WITH    CAPTAIN   FOX.  93 

voyages  to  the  north-west  or  to  the  frozen  regions 
of  Spitzbergen.  Being  inexperienced  himself,  he 
had  refused  to  engage  others  who  had  had  experi- 
ence. The  consequence  of  this  folly  was,  that  when 
he  was  locked  up  among  the  immense  masses  of 
floating  ice,  he  knew  not  what  measures  had  been 
adopted  by  his  predecessors  in  like  circumstances, 
and  there  was  no  one  on  board  who,  from  their  own 
experience,  could  inform  him.  He  was  obliged, 
therefore,  to  fall  back  upon  his  own  inventive 
genius  to  extricate  himself  from  these,  to  him,  un- 
tried perils.  His  want  of  experience,  however,  sub- 
jected him  to  indescribable  anxiety  and  sufferings, 
and  brought  him  to  the  very  verge  of  destruction, 
with  his  vessel  and  crew.  Through  the  favor  of  a 
kind  Providence  he  succeeded,  after  an  incredible 
amount  of  labor,  in  breaking  his  little  vessel  out, 
and  working  her  through  the  floating  mountains 
and  sharp  cakes  of  ice  into  Hudson's  Bay.  He.kept 
on  his  westward  course,  directly  across  the  Bay, 
until  he  reached  the  shore,  where  his  peril  was  in- 
creased by  the  vessel  repeatedly  striking  the  rocky 
bottom.  Between  Port  Nelson  and  Cape  Henrietta 
Maria,  he  fell  in  with  Captain  Fox. 

As  it  was  now  too  late  in  the  season  for  discov- 
eries, he  occupied  himself  in  searching  for  a  good 
place  to  pass  the  winter.  Penetrating  to  the  ex- 
tremity of  James's  Bay,  which  is  the  southern  pro- 


94  WINTER   ENCAMPMENT. 

longation  of  Hudson's  Bay,  he  found  a  place  that 
seemed  adapted  to  his  purpose.  "  After  encounter- 
ing many  storms  and  thousands  of  perils,  among 
the  ice,  and  the  many  rocks  which  are  found  in 
that  part  of  the  sea,  and  his  ship  having  two  or 
three  times  struck  on  the  shoals,  he  ran  her,  him- 
self, aground  on  the  island  which  he  afterward 
called  Charleton  Island.  With  great  difficulty  and 
danger  they  carried  their  provisions,  cables,  sails, 
rigging,  clothes,  utensils,  and  a  thousand  other 
necessaries  on  shore.  They  made  themselves  some 
miserable  huts  of  pieces  of  wood,  which  they  placed 
in  an  inclining  posture  round  a  tree,  and  covered 
them  with  boughs  of  trees,  and  with  their  sails, 
which  were  soon  covered  over  with  a  good  thick 
bed  of  snow.  Besides  this  hut,  they  built  another, 
and  a  storehouse.  The  hands,  feet,  ears,  or  noses 
of  every  one  of  them  were  frost-bitten.  Their 
clothes  that  had  lain  under  water  in  the  ship,  they 
were  obliged  to  dig  out  of  the  ice,  and  after  thaw- 
ing them  by  the  fire,  to  dry  them  again.  As  they 
gave  their  ship  entirely  up  for  lost,  they  set  about 
building  a  small  pinnace,  with  which  they  hoped, 
after  having  once  got  over  the  winter,  to  save 
themselves  from  this  dreary  place  of  exile.  The 
cold  was  most  terrible  here,  in  north  latitude  fifty- 
two  degrees  and  three  minutes.  Wine,  sack,  oil, 
beer,  vinegar,  and  even  brandy  froze  to  solid  ice, 


EFFECTS    OF   THE   COLD. 


95 


so  that  they  were  obliged  to  cut  the  first  of  these 
liquors  with  hatchets  and  axes.  A  well  which 
they  had  dug  froze  also ;  but  a  spring  at  two  or 
three  hundred  steps  from  their  dwelling  did  not 


ENCAMPING  FOR  THE  WINTER. 


freeze  below  the  surface,  though  at  the  surface  it 
was  covered  with  ice  and  snow.  The  sun  and  the 
moon  appeared  on  the  horizon  twice  as  long  as 
they  did  broad,  on  account  of  the  great  quantity  of 
vapors  with  which  the  atmosphere  was  filled.  The 
island  was  quite  covered  with  forests,  but  contained 


96  A   DREADFUL    DISEASE. 

but  few  reindeer  and  arctic  foxes.  On  the  31st  of 
January,  the  atmosphere  was  so  clear  that  Captain 
James  could  very  plainly  perceive  more  stars  by 
two  thirds  than  he  had  ever  seen  before  in  his  life. 
The  sea  was  frozen  every  night  some  two  or  three 
inches  thick ;  but  the  rising  and  falling  of  the  tides 
the  next  day  broke  this  ice  and  crowded  the  cakes 
over  each  other,  in  which  condition  they  would 
freeze  together  and  then  become  foundations  for 
other  cakes  to  be  heaped  upon  them  and  frozen 
fast,  and  in  a  few  hours  become  five,  six  or  ten  feet 
thick.  These  cakes,  or  embryo  mountains,  would 
then  be  torn  from  the  shore  and  float  about,  cover- 
ing the  waters  of  the  bay,  and  daily  increasing  its 
coldness,  though  when  the  men  waded  in  the 
water,  notwithstanding  it  froze  upon  them,  it  did 
not  produce  so  severe  a  sensation  of  coldness  as  in 
the  month  of  June.  This  was,  probably,  owing  to 
the  fact  that  in  the  month  of  June  the  atmosphere 
being  much  warmer  than  in  the  winter  months, 
there  was  a  greater  contrast  then  between  the 
temperature  of  the  air  and  of  the  water,  which 
would  impart  a  greater  sensation  of  coldness  to 
those  who  had  occasion  to  wade.  In  February, 
the  men  were  afflicted  with  that  horrible  disease, 
the  scurvy.  They  bled  at  the  mouth ;  their  gums 
were  swollen,  and  sometimes  black  and  putrid,  and 
all  their  teeth  were  loose.  Their  mouths  were  so 


SEVERITY    OF   THE    COLD.  97 

sore  that  they  could  no  longer  eat  their  usual  food. 
Some  complained  of  shooting  pains  in  the  head, 
others  in  the  breast,  others  felt  a  weakness  in  their 
reins,  others  had  pains  in  their  thighs  and  knees, 
and  others,  again,  had  swollen  legs.  Two  thirds  of 
the  crew  were  under  the  hands  of  the  surgeon,  and, 
nevertheless,  were  obliged  to  work  hard,  though 
they  had  no  shoes  to  their  feet,  but  instead  of 
shoes,  fastened  clouts  about  them.  In  the  open 
air  jthe  cold  was  quite  insupportable,  no  clothes 
being  proof  against  it,  nor  any  motion  sufficient 
to  keep  their  natural  warmth.  It  froze  the  hair 
on  their  eyelids,  so  that  they  could  not  see,  and 
it  was  with  difficulty  that  they  could  fetch  their 
breath. 

In  the  woods  the  cold  was  somewhat  less  severe  ; 
yet  here  they  were  afflicted  with  chilblains  on  their 
faces,  hands  and  feet.  The  least  degree  of  cold  was 
within  doors.  On  the  outside,  the  house  was  cov- 
ered with  snow  two  thirds  of  its  height,  and  within- 
side  every  thing  was  frozen  and  hung  full  of  icicles. 
Their  bedding  was  quite  stiff,  and  covered  with 
hoar-frost,  though  their  beds  were  almost  close  to 
the  fire  in  their  small  dwelling.  The  water  in  which 
the  cook  soaked  the  salt  meat,  froze  within  doors, 
though  it  stood  but  three  feet  from  the  fire.  But 
during  the  night,  when  the  fire  was  not  so  well  kept 
up,  while  the  cook  slept  only  for  four  hours,  all  was 
9 


98  THAWING   TEEES. 

frozen  in  the  tub  into  one  lump.  When  afterward 
the  cook  soaked  the  meat  in  a  copper  kettle  close  to 
the  fire,  to  prevent  it  from  freezing,  the  side  near 
the  fire  was  found  to  be  quite  warm,  while  the  op- 
posite side  was  frozen  an  inch  thick.  All  their 
axes  and  hatchets  had  been  spoiled,  and  rendered 
unfit  for  use  by  cutting  the  frozen  wood,  so  that 
Captain  James  found  it  necessary  to  lock  up  thfc 
carpenter's  axe,  in  order  to  prevent  it  from  being 
spoiled  also.  The  green  wood  that  they  burned  in 
their  dwelling,  almost  suffocated  them  with  smoke ; 
that  which  was  dry,  on  the  contrary,  was  full  of 
turpentine,  and  produced  so  much  soot,  that  they 
themselves  with  all  their  beds,  clothes,  and  utensils, 
were  covered  with  it ;  and  in  short  they  looked  like 
chimney-sweepers.  The  timber,  knees,  beams,  and 
bent  pieces,  wanted  for  the  construction  of  their 
pinnace,  caused  the  greatest  difficulty,  as  the  trees, 
before  they  could  fell  them,  were  obliged  to  be 
thawed  by  the  fire.  After  this,  the  pieces  were  first 
hewn  out  in  the  rough,  then  dried  again,  and  at 
length  worked  into  the  last  form  that  was  to  be 
given  them,  and  fitted  into  each  other ;  for  which 
purpose  they  were  obliged  constantly  to  keep  up  a 
large  fire  near  the  stock,  as  otherwise  it  would  have 
been  impossible  for  them  to  have  worked  there. 
Many  of  them  were  disabled  by  the  scurvy,  or  had 
frozen  limbs,  boils  and  sores;  others  were  every 


SEAECH   FOE   THE   EUDDEE.  99 

morning  so  contracted  in  their  joints  by  the  rheu- 
matism that  it  was  necessary  to  restore  the  supple- 
ness and  pliancy  of  their  limbs  by  fomenting  them 
every  morning  with  warm  water  and  a  decoction 
of  the  fir-tree,  before  they  were  able  to  go  a  step 
forward,  or  to  make  use  of  their  hands.  In  the 
month  of  March  the  cold  Avas  as  severe  as  in  the 
midst  of  winter.  In  April  the  snow  fell  in  greater 
quantities  than  it  had  done  during  the  whole  winter, 
but  the  flakes  were  large  and  rather  moist,  while  in 
the  winter  the  snow  was  dry,  like  dust ;  even  on  the 
5th  of  April,  the  spring  which  we  mentioned  they 
had  found,  was  frozen.  An  island  that  was  situated 
at  the  distance  of  four  leagues  from  them  they 
could  never  see  from  a  small  hill  in  fine  weather, 
and  when  the  air  was  clear ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
when  the  air  was  thick  and  full  of  vapor,  the  island 
was  visible,  even  from  plain,  level  ground.* 

The  vessel  which  had  been  run  aground  the  year 
before,  and  which  had  suffered  from  the  ice  and 
weather,  they  began  to  clear  away,  in  order  to  see 
if  there  was  the  least  possibility  of  its  being  able  to 
carry  them  home.  The  whole  company  worked 
with  all  the  energy  and  strength  they  possessed. 
They  were  particularly  desirous  to  find  the  rudder 
which  had  been  beaten  off  by  the  ice  many  months 
before,  and  after  a  great  amount  of  severe  toil,  they 
*  Footer. 


100  DIFFICULTIES    MULTIPLY. 

discovered  this  important  article,  and  hoisted  it  on 
deck ;  they  also  got  the  anchor  on  board,  and,  to 
their  great  joy,  found  the  vessel  much  less  injured 
than  they  had  feared.  At  the  time  they  run  her 
upon  the  shore  they  bored  holes  in  her  bottom  for 
the  purpose  of  letting  in  water,  which,  by  freezing, 
might  increase  her  weight,  keep  her  steady,  and 
thus  render  her  less  liable  of  being  lifted  and  dashed 
to  pieces  upon  the  rocks.  These  holes  they  now 
found,  and  at  low  water,  succeeded  in  closing  them. 
They  also  found  both  of  the  pumps  choked  up  with 
ice.  These  they  thawed  out,  and  then  used  them 
in  pumping  the  water  out  of  the  vessel.  On  the 
last  day  of  April,  they  were  favored  with  a  sign  of 
the  approach  of  spring,  in  the  falling  of  rain. 

The  men  hailed  this  favorable  indication  with 
great  joy,  as  it  furnished  them  with  grounds  of  hope 
of  a  speedy  departure  for  their  own  land.  They 
had  become  heartily  wearied  of  the  barrenness,  cold- 
ness and  suffering  of  the  frozen  north,  and  were  fill- 
ed with  gladness  when  the  rain  indicated  that  their 
release  was  at  hand.  Their  joy,  however,  was  of 
short  duration,  for  on  the  second  of  May  the  atmos- 
phere was  filled  with  snow,  and  the  weather  was  ex- 
tremely cold.  By  this  sudden  blighting  of  their 
hopes,  the  men  were  greatly  depressed.  The  dis- 
orders of  the  sick  increased  to  such  a  degree  that 
they  fainted  away  whenever  they  were  raised  from 


THE   SICK   RECOVEKING.  101 

their  bed.  Large  flocks  of  geese  and  cranes  now 
visited  the  island,  but  they  were  too  discreet  to  allow 
the  men  to  come  within  musket-shot  of  them.  On 
the  24th  of  the  month,  the  party  were  startled  by 
a  loud  noise  resembling  thunder,  which  they  soon 
discovered  was  occasioned  by  the  breaking  up  of 
the  heavy  ice  in  the  bay.  Though  at  that  time  the 
sun  was  hot  in  the  day,  the  water  froze  at  night. 
On  the  last  day  of  the  month  they  found  a  few 
vetches — a  pod-bearing  plant — which  they  gathered 
and  prepared  for  the  sick.  During  the  whole  of 
May  the  wind  blew  chiefly  from  the  north,  and 
on  the  four  first  days  of  June,  they  had  storms  of 
snow,  sleet  and  hail.  So  severe  was  the  cold  in  that 
month,  that  their  newly-washed  clothes  were  frozen 
stiff  on  the  line,  and  ice  was  formed  in  pitchers 
within  the  house.  On  the  9th  the  sick  had  so  far 
recovered  as  to  be  able  to  creep  about  the  house. 
Some  who  had  been  but  slightly  diseased,  had  be- 
come comparatively  strong.  The  green  vetch  leaves 
had  produced  a  favorable  eflect.  They  >vere  in  the 
habit  of  eating  them  twice  a  day,  dressed  with 
vinegar  and  oil.  They  also  bruised  them  and  mix- 
ed the  juice  with  their  drink.  Some  preferred  to 
eat  them  raw  with  their  bread.  On  the  llth  they 
adjusted  their  rudder  in  its  proper  place,  and  cast 
out  the  ballast  of  the  ship.  By  the  15th,  those  who 
were  on  the  sick  list  were  so  far  recovered  that 
9* 


102  HOMEWARD    DEPAETUEE. 

they  could  walk  about.  Their  teeth  were  no  longer 
loose,  nor  their  gums  sore,  so  that  they  could  eat 
their  vetches  with  beef,  which  we  may  suppose  was 
none  of  the  most  tender.  The  water  of  the  bay 
continued  full  of  ice.  On  the  16th  not  only  were 
there  thunder  and  lightning,  but  the  weather  was 
so  hot  that  the  men  went  in  bathing  to  cool  and 
cleanse  themselves.  The  warm  weather  brought 
out  an  immense  number  of  musquitoes,  which  prov- 
ed to  be  great  plagues.  They  were  accompanied 
with  ants  and  frogs.  But  birds,  bears  and  foxes 
had  totally  disappeared.  Finally,  on  the  20th,  they 
got  the  ship  afloat  in  deep  water,  although  plenty 
of  ice  surrounded  it.  The  sailors  now  engaged  with 
alacrity  in  rigging  the  ship,  and  getting  on  board 
their  provisions,  clothes  and  other  necessaries.  All 
things  being  ready,  on  the  second  day  of  July  they 
set  out  on  their  return,  parting  with  their  ice  cov- 
ered dwelling  and  store,  but  without  the  least  emo- 
tion of  regret.  At  Cape  Henrietta  Maria  they  gave 
variety  to  their  employment  by  landing  and  engag- 
ing in  the  chase  after  some  stags,  which  they  saw 
there.  But  neither  dogs  or  men  could  overtake 
them.  They  were  probably  too  much  weakened 
by  their  privations  during  the  winter,  to  run  with 
any  great  speed.  With  the  fowl  they  were  more 
fortunate,  having  obtained  half  a  dozen  geese.  Al- 
though it  was  now  mid-summer,  yet  so  great 


JAMES'S    OPINIONS.  103 

the  quantity  of  ice  in  the  bay  as  to  subject  them  to 
very  great  labor  in  working  through  it.  However, 
by  persevering  through  many  discouragements,  they 
finally  succeeded  in  reaching  Carey's  Swan's  Nest, 
and  then  Nottingham  Island.  Their  stock  of  pro- 
visions being  limited,  and  their  old  crazy  vessel  leaky, 
the  captain  as  well  as  the  men  were  anxious  to  hurry 
homeward.  They  did  not  therefore  stay  to  make 
any  further  discoveries.  James  was  the  less  inclined 
to  linger  any  longer,  because  he  was  of  opinion  that 
no  outlet  to  the  north-west  could  be  found  there. 
He  based  this  conclusion  upon  the  following  reasons: 
"  First,  because  the  tide  in  every  part  of  this  sea 
comes  from  the  east  through  Hudson's  Straits,  and 
the  further  it  goes  the  later  it  arrives  at  every  place 
within  the  strait  and  bay.  Secondly,  because  these 
seas  contain  no  small  fish,  such  as  cod,  stockfish,  etc., 
and  few  large  ones,  which  likewise  are  seldom  seen. 
Neither  are  there  any  whale-bones  nor  any  sea- 
horses, or  other  large  fish  found  on  the  shore ;  nor 
is  there  any  drift-wood  here.  Thirdly,  because 
the  ice  in  65°  30'  north  latitude,  lies  in  large 
fields,  or  flakes  on  the  sea,  because  it  is  generated 
in  the  flat  bays,  but  if  there  was  a  great  ocean 
further  on,  nothing  but  large  mountains  of  ice  would 
be  found,  such  as  are  at  the  entrance  of  Hudson's 
Straits,  and  further  on  to  the  eastward.  Fourthly, 
and  lastly,  because  the  ice  drives  eastward  through 


104  JAMES'S   REASONING   INCONCLUSIVE. 

the  straits  into  the  great  ocean  by  reason  that  it 
comes  from  the  north  and  has  no  other  way  to  go 
out  by."  James  therefore  steered  at  once  for  Eng- 
land, and  arrived  at  Bristol  on  the  22d  of  October 
1632. 

The  argument  of  Captain  James  against  an  out- 
let from  Hudson's  Bay  to  the  north  or  the  north- 
west, are  far  from  being  conclusive.  Indeed,  some 
of  them  were  based  upon  false  premises.  His  first 
reason  was  true  only  in  its  application  to  certain 
parts  of  the  bay — particularly  the  southern  portion 
where  he  wintered.  But  at  Sir  Thomas  Roe's 
Welcome,  in  the  north-western  part  of  the  bay,  the 
tide  rose  higher  than  it  did  at  the  mouth  of  Hud- 
son's Straits.  His  second  reason  was  shown  false 
by  Captain  Cox,  who  saw  many  whales  and  sea- 
unicorns  in  the  bay.  His  last  reason  furnishes  an 
argument  against  his  own  conclusion,  for  as  there 
is  always  large  quantities  of  water  coining  from  the 
north,  which  breaks  the  ice  in  the  bay,  and  drives 
it  out  eastward  through  Hudson's  Straits,  this 
would  seem  to  indicate  that  there  was  an  influx  in 
some  quarter  from  the  north,  pouring  its  waters 
into  the  bay  and  compelling  them  to  find  an  outlet 
through  Hudson's  Straits, 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

De  Groselie— Information  from  the  Ottawas— Hunters  and  Trappers— De 
Vries's  Voyage— Smelling  the  Land— A  dreadful  Scene— Its  Perpetrators 
unknown— The  Particulars— Effects  of  Confidence— Indian  Treachery 
and  Eevenge— Peace  concluded— Beans  wanted— Startling  Intelligence 
— Boat's  Crew  murdered — A  suspicious  Circumstance — Chief's  Visit- 
Gifts  given  and  refused— A  Peach-tree  found— Interview  with  the 
English — Seven  Whales  taken — Whaling  unprofitable. 

CAPTAINS  Fox  and  James  were  not  the  only  ones 
who,  about  that  time,  made  explorations  at  the 
north.  A  Canadian  named  De  Groselie,  a  man  of 
an  adventurous  and  persevering  spirit,  who  had 
traveled  extensively  through  various  parts  of 
Canada,  had  learned  from  the  Ottawa  Indians  the 
existence  of  a  great  bay  to  the  north.  When  he 
returned  to  Quebec  he  aroused  a  number  of  his 
countrymen  to  an  attempt  to  reach  this  bay  by 
water.  They  joined  together,  fitted  out  a  bark, 
and  soon  after  set  sail.  After  meeting  with  the 
usual  incidents  of  a  sea-voyage  to  the  north,  they 
entered  a  river  which  the  Indians  called  the  Tearing 
Stream,  probably  because  its  water  was  torn  and 
rendered  wild  and  turbulent  by  rocks  and  rapids  in 
its  course,  "  and  which  is  situated  but  one  league 
5* 


106  DE   GROSELIE. 

from  Port  Kelson  River,  called  by  the  French  Riv 
iere  de  Bourbon.  He  fixed  his  residence  on  the 
south  side,  on  an  island,  three  leagues  up  the  river. 
The  Canadians,  who  were  good  sportsmen,  arrived 
length,  in  the  midst  of  winter,  at  Port  Nelso'h 
River,  and  there  discovered  a  settlement  of  Eu- 
ropeans. He  therefore  went  thither,  with  his  peo- 
ple, in  order  to  attack  them,  but  found  only  a 
miserable  hut,  covered  with  turf,  and  containing 
six  half-starved  people."  It  appeared  that  these 
miserable  men,  whom  De  Groselie  was  about  to 
attack,  had  belonged  to  a  ship  from  Boston  in  New 
England,  and  had  been  put  on  shore  to  discover  a 
convenient  place  where  the  whole  crew  might  safely 
pass  the  winter.  After  they  had  landed,  the  ship 
to  which  they  belonged  was  driven  by  the  wind 
and  ice,  out  to  sea,  and  they  had  heard  nothing 
from  her  since.  Left,  as  they  must  have  been, 
without  food,  fuel,  or  extra  clothing,  their  condi- 
tion must  have  been  severely  painful.  It  is  left  for 
the  imagination  to  conceive  what  must  have  been 
their  suspense,  their  hopes  and  fears,  as  day  after 
day  passed  away  without  bringing  any  tidings  of 
the  missing  vessel,  and  what  must  have  been  their 
despair  when  they  abandoned  the  expectation  of 
ever  seeing  her  again. 

The  same  winter  De  Groselie  received  informa- 
tion that  about  seven  leagues  from  his  residence,  a 


HUNTEES   AND   TEAPPEES.  *0 

company  of  Englishmen  had  formed  a  settlement 
on  the  banks  of  Port  Nelson  River.  He  resolved 
to  make  war  upon  them,  and  either  drive  them  off 
or  take  them  prisoners.  But  having  learned  that 
the  place  of  their  residence  was  fortified,  he  con- 
cluded to  delay  his  attack  upon  them  until  some 
English  holiday  arrived,  when  they  would  prob- 
ably be  indulging  in  merry-making  and  carousal, 
and  so  be  off  their  guard.  Accordingly,  on  Twelfth 
Day,  he  marched  upon  them,  with  fourteen  French- 
men, and,  to  his  great  joy,  he  found  the  English  so 
intoxicated  that,  though  they  numbered  eighty, 
they  were  unable  to  offer  the  least  defense ;  so  he 
made  them  all  prisoners,  and  thus  became  master 
of  all  that  country.  Not  long  after  this,  in  1669, 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  was  formed  in  England, 
to  whom  was  given  the  monopoly  of  mining,  hunt- 
ing, and  trading,  within  a  very  large  extent  of 
country  in  the  vicinity  of  Hudson's  Bay.  They 
formed  friendly  relations  with  the  Indians,  engaged 
in  trading  with  them,  and  from  them  obtained,  in 
the  course  of  a  few  years,  large  quantities  of  beaver, 
deer,  and  elk  skins,  for  which  they  paid  in  the  cheap 
trifles  and  productions  of  European  manufactures. 
They  also  engaged  hunters  and  trappers  from  civil- 
ized nations,  who  were  allowed  to  hunt,  upon  certain 
conditions,  on  the  lands,  and  along  the  streams, 
belonging  to  the  company ;  one  of  which  was  that 


108  DE   VRIES. 

the  skins  which  they  obtained  should  be  disposed 
of  to  the  Company.  It  proved  to  be  an  extremely 
profitable  corporation. 

While  the  adventures  which  we  have  narrated 
were  transpiring  in  the  cold  and  dreary  north,  and 
Captains  Fox  and  James  were  endeavoring  to  find 
some  channel  through  which  they  might  thread 
their  way  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
and  thus  shorten  the  distance  between  Europe  and 
the  remote  spice  regions  of  Cathay,  another  enter- 
prising navigator  was  pushing  his  investigations  fur- 
ther south,  and  endeavoring  to  find  a  convenient 
place  to  establish  a  permanent  settlement  on  land, 
as  yet  unoccupied  by  any  European  nation.  This 
was  David  Pieterszen  de  Vries.* 

De   Vries  was  a  bold,  skillful,  and  experienced 

*  Mr.  Bancroft,  in  a  note  to  his  History  of  the  United  States, 
vol.  ii.,  p.  282,  says :  "  The  only  copy  which  I  have  seen  of 
the  voyage  of  De  Yries,  in  the  original  language,  is  to  be  found 
in  vol.  i.  of  the  Du  Simitiere  MSS.,  in  the  Philadelphia  library. 
Dr.  Julius,  of  Hamburg,  has  discovered  in  the  royal  library  at 
Dresden,  Saxony,  a  printed  copy.  The  book  escaped  the  re- 
search of  Ebeling,  and  was  not  discovered  by  Lambrechsten. 
For  the  use  of  an  English  MS.  translation,  I  am  indebted  to  the 
great  liberality  of  J.  W.  Moulton."  This  translation  was  made 
from  the  original  Dutch,  by  Dr.  G-.  Troost  of  Philadelphia.  It 
has  since  been  published  in  the  "  Collection  of  the  New  York 
Historical  Society.  New  Series,  vol.  i.,"  and  from  it  we  have 
drawn  up  our  narrative.  As  the  information  which  it  contains 
will  be  new  to  many  of  our  readers,  we  shall  give  it  with  con- 
siderable minuteness. 


COLONY   ESTABLISHED.  109 

navigato^.  He  had  formed  an  acquaintance  with 
the  climate,  the  commerce,  and  the  people  of  the 
East  Indies,  by  voyages  that  he  had  made  there. 
After  returning  from  there,  he  met  with  Samuel 
Godyn,  a  distinguished  merchant  of  Amsterdam, 
who  offered  him  an  opportunity  of  visiting  North 
America,  under  what  was  then  considered  favor- 
able auspices.  He  accepted  the  offer,  and  entered 
into  an  agreement  or  "patronship"  with  Godyn, 
Killian  Van  Rensselaer,  Samuel  Bloemart,  and  Jau 
de  Laet,  who  were  all,  by  the  terms  of  their  agree- 
ment, "  placed  on  an  equal  footing."  Their  object 
was  twofold :  to  establish  colonies  in  what  was  then 
called  "  New  Netherlands,"  extending  from  the  for- 
tieth to  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  north  latitude,  and 
to  engage  in  the  whale  fishery  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Delaware  River,  where  whales  were  supposed  to  be 
abundant. 

Accordingly,  on  December  12th,  1630,  De  Vries 
sailed  from  Texel  for  the  Delaware,  which,  at  that 
time  was  called  the  South  River,  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  Hudson,  which  was  called  the  North 
River.  He  was  accompanied  by  about  thirty  emi- 
grants, who  were  to  constitute  the  new  colony. 
They  successfully  reached  Delaware  Bay,  sailed  up 
the  river,  and  just  within  Cape  Henlopen,  where 
Lewistown  now  stands,  they  established  the  new  set- 
tlement,  that  region  of  country  being  then  called 
10 


110  SMELLING   THE   LAND. 

Swan's  Dale.  A  block  house  was  built,  palisades 
were  erected,  and  agriculture  commenced.  De 
Vries  left  them  with  the  expectation  that  they 
would  become  a  permanent  plantation,  and  returned 
home.  The  next  year  he  came  back,  not  to  inquire 
after  their  welfare — for  intelligence  had  reached  him 
that  a  dreadful  catastrophe  had  occurred,  by  which 
the  whole  colony  had  been  swept  away — but  to  as- 
certain particulars,  traffic  with  the  natives,  and  visit 
other  colonies. 

December  1st,  1632,  he  found  himself  near  the 
coast  of  America,  in  fifty-seven  fathoms  of  water. 
They  could  plainly  smell  the  fragrant  odor  of  the 
underbrush,  as  it  was  borne  to  them  from  the  fires 
which  the  Indians  kindled  at  that  season  of  the 
year,  in  order  to  render  the  woods  and  country 
more  favorable  for  hunting.  "  We  smell  the  land, 
therefore,  before  it  can  be  seen."  When  between 
the  latitudes  of  thirty-four  and  forty,  with  the  water 
at  thirteen  fathoms,  they  had  a  view  of  the  coast. 
On  the  5th,  they  entered  Delaware  Bay ;  they  were 
accompanied  by  a  whale  playing  around  them. 
"  We  promised  ourselves,"  says  De  Vries,  "  great 
things ;  plenty  of  whales,  and  good  land  for  culti. 
vation." 

The  next  day  they  took  the  boat,  and  being  weU 
armed,  in  order  to  protect  themselves  against  the 
Indians,  if  they  should  be  attacked,  they  passed  up 


A   DREADFUL   TRAGEDY.  Ill 

the  river,  and  examined  the  place  where  the  little 
colony  had  been  left  the  year  before.  It  presented 
a  melancholy  scene.  The  blockhouse  was  destroyed, 
the  parapets  burned,  and  the  ground  scattered  over 
with  the  skulls  and  bones  of  their  murdered  country- 
men. That  this  dreadful  tragedy  had  been  perform- 
ed by  the  savages,  there  was  but  little  if  any  doubt ; 
but  as  to  the  cause  which  led  to  it,  or  the  circum- 
stances attending  it,  they  were  left  in  impenetrable 
darkness.  It  was  now  the  policy  of  De  Vries  to 
discover,  if  he  could,  all  the  facts  in  the  case ;  for 
this  purpose  he  was  anxious  to  obtain  an  interview 
with  some  of  the  natives.  After  gazing  upon  these 
affecting  memorials  as  long  as  they  desired,  the 
company  returned  to  the  vessel,  pondering  with  sad 
emotions  upon  the  untimely  end  of  these  adventur- 
ous pioneers.  After  they  reached  the  ship,  De  Vries 
ordered  a  gun  to  be  fired,  to  see  if  any  of  the  In- 
dians would  show  themselves.  The  next  day  two 
or  three  were  seen  near  the  ruins  of  the  blockhouse. 
They  refused  to  approach  the  ship,  but  signified 
that  they  wanted  to  receive  a  visit.  The  next  day 
being  December  8th,  "  We  went  in  the  yacht,"  says 
De  Vries,  "  up  the  creek  to  the  house.  The  Indians 
came  on  shore,  but  would  not  at  first  come  on  board. 
At  last  one  came.  I  gave  him  a  dress  of  cloth,  and 
we  told  him  we  wished  to  make  peace  with  them. 
There  now  came  more  Indians,  who  expected  also 


112  INDIAN'S  STATEMENT. 

a  dress,  but  we  gave  them  only  some  trinkets,  and 
told  them  that  we  ha.d  presented  the  other  with  a 
dress,  because  he  had  shown  more  confidence  in  us,  as 
being  the  first  that  ventured  to  enter  the  boat.  Wo 
told  them  to  come  the  next  day  with  their  chief, 
whom  they  called  Sakimas,  with  whom  we  would 
make  a  satisfactory  peace,  which  they  called  Ran- 
contynmarenit.  One  of  the  Indians  remained  with 
us  during  the  night  in  the  yacht."  De  Yries  took 
advantage  of  the  prolonged,  confiding  visit  of  this 
one,  to  inquire  concerning  the  particulars  of  the 
fate  of  the  destroyed  colony,  the  account  of  which, 
as  it  is  the  only  early  statement  known  to  exist  in 
our  language,  we  will  give  in  his  own  words :  "  We 
asked  him  the  reason  why  they  had  killed  our  people. 
He  showed  us  a  place  where  our  people  had  emp- 
tied a  pillow,  to  which  was  attached  a  piece  of  tin 
upon  which  was  figured  the  emblem  of  Holland. 
One  of  their  chiefs  wanted  to  take  this  piece  of  tin 
to  make  of  it  tobacco-pipes,  not  knowing  that  it  was 
improper.  Those  who  had  the  command  at  the 
house  showed  much  dissatisfaction,  so  that  the  In- 
dians did  not  know  how  to  make  amends.  They 
went  away  and  killed  the  chief  who  had  taken  the 
tin,  and  brought  a  token  of  it  to  those  who  had  the 
command  at  the  house,  who  told  them  they  had 
done  wrong,  that  they  ought  to  have  come  with 
him  to  the  house,  and  they  would  have  only  told 


INDIAN   REVENGE.  113 

him,  not  to  do  so  again.  They  then  went  away; 
but  the  friends  of  the  murdered  chief  (the  people 
having  much  the  character  of  the  Italians,  who  are 
greatly  addicted  to  vengeance)  had  resolved  to  be 
revenged.  They  attacked  our  people  when  they 
were  working  in  the  field,  leaving  but  a  single  sick 
man  in  the  house,  and  a  large  bull-dog,  which  was 
chained  out  of  doors.  The  man  who  had  command 
of  the  house  stood  near  the  door.  Three  of  the 
boldest  Indians,  who  were  to  perpetrate  the  deed, 
came  and  offered  him  a  parcel  of  beavers  to  barter, 
and  contrived  to  enter  the  house.  He  went  in  with 
them  to  transact  the  business.  That  being  done, 
he  went  to  a  garret  where  the  stores  were.  Com- 
ing down,  one  of  the  Indians  cleaved  his  head  with 
an  axe,  so  that  he  dropped  dead  on  the  floor.  They 
then  murdered  the  sick  man  and  then  went  to  the 
dog,  which  they  feared  most,  and  shot  at  least  twen- 
ty-five arrows  at  him  before  he  was  killed.  They 
then  went  in  a  treacherous  manner  to  the  people  in 
the  field,  approaching  them  under  the  appearance 
of  friendship,  and  murdered  one  after  the  other." 
Thus  fatally  terminated  the  existence  of  the  little 
colony  on  the  Delaware.  The  trouble  was  occasion- 
ed by  the  indiscretion  of  the  Indians  in  murdering 
the  chief  who  had  taken  the  piece  of  tin,  which  per- 
haps had  been  hung  up  as  evidence  that  the  Dutch 
had  taken  possession  of  the  country.  This  kindled 
10* 


114  SEEKING   BEANS. 

the  fire  of  revenge  in  the  bosom  of  the  murdored 
chief's  friends,  which  could  not  be  extinguished  ex- 
cept with  the  blood  of  the  whites. 

On  the  9th  the  chief  of  the  place  visited  De 
Vries,  accompanied  by  many  of  his  tribe.  They 
arranged  themselves  in  a  circle,  entered  upon  ne- 
gotiations, and  concluded  a  peace.  De  Vries 
thought  it  best  to  ask  no  satisfaction  for  the  slaugh- 
ter of  the  colonists,  nor  even  to  make  the  least 
allusion  to  it ;  for  knowing  the  migratory  habits  of 
the  natives,  he  was  aware  that  if  they  refused  to 
render  satisfaction,  it  would  not  be  in  his  power  to 
inflict  upon  them  what  might  be  regarded  as  de- 
served punishment,  and  therefore  it  would  be  more 
prudent  not  to  refer  to  the  subject  at  all.  He  there- 
fore ignored  the  whole  matter. 

He  presented  them  some  blankets,  bullets,  axes, 
and  toys,  for  which  they  promised  to  reciprocate  by 
giving  in  return  some  game,  which  they  had  re- 
cently taken. 

As  the  Dutch  expected  great  success  in  catching 
whales,  they  now  made  preparation  for  lodging  on 
land,  and  boiling  the  oil. 

On  the  first  day  of  the  new  year  he  ascended  the 
Delaware  River  in  the  yacht,  to  obtain,  if  possible, 
some  beans  from  the  Indians.  His  hopes  of  suc- 
cessful fishery  were  kept  up  by  seeing  a  whale  in 
the  Bay.  Four  days  afterward  he  visited  a  small 


STARTLING   INTELLIGENCE.  115 

fort  which  had  been  erected  by  the  Dutch  in  1623, 
a  few  miles  below  the  present  site  of  Philadelphia, 
on  the  east  bank  of  the  Delaware,  and  called  "  Fort 
Nassau."  It  was  now  unoccupied,  the  attempt  at 
Colonizing  here  being  abandoned.  He  here  met 
vith  a  few  Indians,  who  had  some  furs  which  they 
purposed  to  exchange  for  European  commodities; 
but  as  De  Vries's  stock  of  goods  was  limited,  he 
was  unwilling  to  part  with  any  thing,  except  for 
beans,  especially  as  he  had  made  them  presents  at 
Swan's  Dale  when  they  negotiated  peace.  Being 
either  unable  or  unwilling  to  supply  them  with 
beans,  the  Indians  advised  them  to  go  to  the  Tim- 
merkill,  now  called  Cooper's  Creek.  The  prudent 
counsels  which  were  at  the  same  time  given  them 
by  an  Indian  woman,  were"  probably  the  means  of 
preserving  their  excursion  from  reaching  a  tragic 
and  perhaps  fatal  termination.  She  warned  them 
not  to  go  up  to  Timmerkill,  because  they  would  be 
attacked.  Having  received  this  important  informa- 
tion, they  were  anxious  for  more,  and  therefore 
gave  her  a  dress  of  cloth,  to  induce  her  to  tell  all 
she  knew.  She  then  told  them  that  a  boat's  crew, 
which  had  ascended  the  Count  Ernest  River,  had 
all  been  murdered.  Although  this  intelligence  did 
not  induce  De  Vries  to  relinquish  the  attempt  of 
reaching  the  Timmerkill,  it  made  him  more  cautious 
and  vigilant,  and  induced  him  to  adopt  a  different 


116  INDIAN  PLOT  DEFEATED. 

tone  in  his  dealings  with  the  natives  there  from 
what  he  otherwise  would  have  indulged. 

He  reached  the  Timmerkill  next  day,  fully  pre- 
pared for  any  emergency.  It  was  not  long  before 
a  large  party  of  Roodehoek  or  Mantes  Indians  ap- 
proached the  boat,  bringing  with  them  beaver  skins 
to  barter.  Over  forty  of  them  entered  the  yacht, 
the  crew  of  which  numbered  only  seven.  Some  of 
these  natives  began  to  play  on  a  rude  musical  instru- 
ment, like  a  flute,  so  as  to  prevent  awakening  sus- 
picion. Others  loitered  carelessly  around,  and 
others  made  proposals  of  trade.  After  a  while  De 
Vries  thought  it  best  for  them  to  withdraw,  and  ac- 
cordingly ordered  them  all  oif,  at  the  same  time 
threatening,  if  they  did  not  comply,  that  he  would 
fire  on  them.  This  induced  one  of  the  chiefs  to 
offer  an  armful  of  beaver  skins  to  them.  But  the 
Dutch  refused  them,  and  ordered  them  peremptor- 
ily ashore,  stating  that  Mantes — the  Indian  name 
for  the  Evil  One — had  revealed  to  them  that  they 
intended  some  wickedness  against  them.  The  In- 
dians then  thought  it  best  to  retire,  and  accord- 
ingly withdrew  to  the  shore.  So  that,  if  any 
villainous  plot  had  been  arranged  by  them,  it  was 
entirely  defeated  through  the  vigilance  and  decision 
of  De  Vries.  A  circumstance  which  increased  the 
suspicion  of  the  captain,  and  gave  weight  to  the 
testimony  of  the  woman,  concerning  the  bad  char- 


VISIT    OF    INDIAN   CKIEFS.  117 

acter  of  these  fellows  was,  that  some  of  them  wor4 
English  jackets.  As  these  were  never  made  an 
article  of  barter  with  the  natives,  it  is  difficult  to 
conceive  how  these  Indians  came,  honestly,  in  the 
possession  of  them.  If  they  had  ever  murdered  a 
boat's  crew  as  the  woman  had  said,  they  might 
have  stolen  them  then. 

The  next  morning  the  captain  again  presented 
himself  in  the  stream  before  the  fort,  which  waa 
soon  crowded  with  Indians,  who  kept  increasing 
more  and  more.  A  canoe  put  off  the  shore  to  the 
yacht,  carrying  nine  chiefs  from  different  places, 
among  whom  was  one  of  those  who,  the  day  before, 
had  worn  an  English  jacket,  which,  however,  he 
had  laid  aside  now,  perhaps  in  order  to  avoid  ex- 
citing suspicion,  or  being  questioned  concerning  it. 
"  They  sat  down  in  a  circle,  and  called  for  us,  say- 
ing that  they  saw  that  we  were  in  fear  of  them; 
that  they  came  on  purpose  to  conclude  a  permanent 
peace  with  us,  presented  us  with  ten  beaver-skins, 
the  gift  of  every  one  being  accompanied  with  some 
ceremonies,  saying  at  the  same  time  in  whose  name 
it  was  given,  as  a  token  of  eternal  peace ;  and  that 
we  must  now  banish  all  suspicion,  as  they  had  re- 
jected all  evil  thoughts.  I  then  offered  them,  by 
the  translator,  some  presents  for  each,  consisting  of 
an  ax,  adze,  and  a  pair  of  small  knives ;  bnt  these 
they  refused,  saying  that  they  did  not  give  their 


118  DE   VKIES   VISITS   VIRGINIA. 

presents  to  receive  others  in  the  place  of  them,  but 
in  order  to  make  peace.  We  told  them  that  we 
would  give  them  something  for  their  wives;  but 
they  told  us  we  must  give  it  them  on  shore.  On 
the  9th  and  10th  got  some  Indian  corn  and  furs  on 
barter  of  them." 

Ten  days  after  this  he  ascended  a  fine  stream ; 
found  the  country  beautifully  diversified  with  ro- 
mantic scenery,  and,  as  many  luxuriant  vines  with 
their  rich  clusters  ornamented  the  sides  of  the  nar- 
row river  through  which  he  was  sailing,  he  gave  it 
the  appropriate  name  of  "  Vine  Creek." 

It  was  the  desire  of  De  Vries  to  explore  the 
Delaware  much  further  than  he  had  done,  but  as  he 
could  not  obtain  sufficient  provision  from  the  In- 
dians to  meet  his  wants,  he  concluded  to  make  a 
voyage  to  the  English  setlement  in  Virginia,  in 
hopes  of  finding  a  supply  there.  On  his  way  thither 
he  noticed  that  the  land  was  in  a  more  advanced 
and  settled  state.  He  saw,  for  the  first  time,  a 
peach-tree  (one  would  suppose  from  this,  that  the 
peach-tree  was  indigenous.)  He  had  an  interview 
with  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  who,  when  he 
learned  that  his  Dutch  visitor  had  come  from  the 
South  River,  took  occasion  to  inform  him  that  this 
river  was  the  property  of  the .  English  ;  that  some 
time  before,  Lord  Delaware  had  entered  and  taken 
possession  of  it,  but  as  he  found  it  difficult  of  navi- 


TAKING  WHALES.  119 

gation  in  consequence  of  numerous  sand-banks,  he 
did  not  ascend  it.  He  also  told  him  that  he  had 
sent  a  sloop  there,  but  as  it  had  never  returned  he 
thought  that  it  must  have  been  lost  at  sea  with  all 
on  board.  De  Yries  replied  to  his  excellency,  that 
he  was  mistaken ;  that  the  South  or  Delaware  River 
had  for  many  years  belonged  to  the  Dutch,  who 
Jaad  erected  a  fort  on  one  of  its  banks,  that  it  was  a 
noble  stream,  and  easily  navigable.  He  also  in- 
formed the  governor  that  the  Indians  on  that  river 
had  told  him  that  the  crew  of  an  English  boat  had 
been  murdered  there,  and  that  their  clothing  he  had 
«een  worn  by  the  natives. 

The  interview  seems,  on  the  whole,  to  have  been 
a  pleasant  one,  for,  at  its  conclusion,  the  governor 
gave  De  Vries  six  goats  to  be  introduced  into  his 
new  colony.  After  purchasing  a  supply  of  provisions, 
the  captain  returned  to  the  Delaware,  and  found 
that  those  who  had  been  left  there  to  prosecute  the 
whale  fishery  had  taken  seven  whales,  which  had 
furnished  thirty-two  cartels  of  oil.  This,  however, 
was  such  a  poor  return  for, the  amount  of  money 
which  had  been  invested  in  the  business,  as  to  show 
that  the  enterprise  was  unprofitable.  After  this, 
De  Vries  made  several  voyages  to  the  Dutch  set* 
tlements  in  New  York. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Gustavus  Adolpbus— His  plans  of  Emigration— A  War  defeats  them— 
Deception  of  the  Swedish  Governor — Fort  Casimer  taken  by  Treachery- 
Governor  Stuyvesant  attacks  Delaware — Rumors  of  a  Silver  Mountain — 
An  Indian  brings  Ore — He  is  Assassinated — The  English  conquer  the 
Dutch— Children  stolen  by  the  Savages— Their  Kedemption-price  in 
Tobacco — Commercial  Regulations — Famous  Navigation  Act. 

IN  1626,  Gustavus  Adolphus,  King  of  Sweden, 
who  had  received  very  glowing  descriptions  of  the 
salubrity  of  the  climate,  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  and 
the  romantic  character  of  the  scenery  of  New 
Netherlands,  published  an  address  to  his  subjects, 
earnestly  urging  them  to  associate  together  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  a  settlement  in  this  charming 
country  of  the  New  World.  His  address  awakened 
great  attention  among  the  Swedes;  led  to  much 
conversation,  in  which  the  project  was  probably 
fully  discussed  on  both  sides,  and  resulted  in  the 
adoption  of  measures  for  raising  a  fund  by  volun- 
tary subscription  for  the  object.  Persons  of  all 
classes  became  interested  in  the  enterprise.  An  ad- 
miral, vice-admiral,  merchants,  assistants,  commis- 
saries, and  a  military  force,  were  duly  appointed. 


DECEPTION    OF    RISINGH.  121 

It  seemed  as  if  every  arrangement  was  made  for 
the  establishment  of  a  permanent  and  flourishing 
colony ;  but  the  difficulties  occasioned  by  the  out- 
breaking of  a  German  war  suspended  the  opera- 
tions. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  years,  several  different  set- 
tlements were  formed  on  the  Delaware  by  the 
Dutch  and  the  Swedes,  who  held  the  country  ia 
common,  until  the  erection  of  a  fort  by  the  Dutch 
at  Sandhocken,  now  called  Newcastle,  excited  the 
anger  of  the  Swedes,  and  led  to  hostilities.  The 
Swedish  governor,  Risingh,  demanded  that  thia 
fort,  which  had  been  named  Fort  Oasimer,  should 
be  delivered  to  him ;  the  Dutch,  of  course,  refused. 
Risingh  then  resolved  to  obtain  possession  of  it, 
either  by  force  or  fraud.  For  this  purpose  he  ap- 
proached it  under  the  garb  of  friendship.  Having 
arrived  in  a  boat  opposite  to  the  fort,  he  honored  it 
by  firing  two  military  salutes.  By  this  deception 
the  Dutch  were  effectually  thrown  off  their  guard. 
Risingh  then  landed  thirty  men,  whom  the  Dutch, 
in  the  simplicity  of  their  hearts,  received  within 
their  gates  as  friends.  When  once  in,  the  Swedes 
threw  off  their  mask,  revealed  their  true  object, 
overpowered  the  unsuspecting  Dutch,  seized  tho 
stores,  ammunition,  and  merchandise  of  the  place, 
and  even  compelled  some  of  the  conquered  Dutch 
to  disown  their  native  country,  and  swear  allegiance 
11 


122  STUYVESANT'S  VICTORIES. 

to  the  Swedish  Queen.     Fort  Casimer  was  DOW  in 
the  possession  of  the  Swedes. 

When  the  news  of  this  outrage  reached  the  re- 
doubted Stuyvesant,  who  was  then  Governor  of 
New  York,  he  resolved  to  inflict  instant  and  fear- 
ful vengeance.  As  there  were  several  different 
Swedish  settlements  on  the  Delaware,  it  was  the 
intention  of  Stuyvesant,  under  direction  of  the 
home  government,  to  sweep  them  all  away,  and 
take  possession  of  the  whole  of  that  country.  After 
considerable  time  was  spent  in  collecting  his  forces, 
and  completing  his  arrangements,  the  Dutch  gov- 
ernor presented  himself  in  the  Delaware,  with  seven 
vessels,  and  nearly  seven  hundred  men.  The 
Swedes  were  alarmed,  but  could  not  arrest  the  pro- 
gress of  this  invading  fleet.  Stuyvesant  first  at- 
tacked and  took  possession  of  Elsinborg.  He  then 
advanced  upon  the  fort  of  the  Holy  Trinity.  After 
landing  his  men,  and  protecting  them  behind  in- 
trenchments,  he  demanded  the  surrender  of  the 
place,  threatening,  in  case  of  refusal,  the  severest 
treatment  known  in  war.  The  fort  capitulated,  and 
soon  the  flag  of  the  Dutch  was  seen  waving  from  its 
walls,  where  a  few  minutes  before  the  colors  of  the 
Swedes  were  gayly  flaunting  in  the  breeze.  He 
next  appeared  before  Fort  Casimer,  then  under  the 
command  of  Sven  Scutz,  and  summoned  him  to 
yield.  Scutz  asked  permission  to  consult  with  the 


DISCOVERY    OF   SILVER   ORE.  123 

governor  before  replying.  Stuyvesant  was  in  no 
mood  to  comply  with  this  request,  and  therefore 
denied  him  the  privilege  of  the  desired  conference. 
Believing  that  a  conflict  would  result  only  in  a  use- 
less shedding  of  blood,  Scutz  made  an  honorable 
surrender.  He  was  permitted  to  march  out  in 
military  array,  to  retain  the  arms  of  his  troops,  and 
the  battery  of  the  fort.  Thus  Fort  Casimer  was 
retaken,  and  probably  some  of  the  old  Dutch  gar- 
rison replaced  there.  Stuyvesant  then  passed  on  to 
another  fortress  stronger  that  of  Casimer,  and 
called  Christina.  It  was  under  the  command  of 
Risingh  himself.  He,  being  equally  unable  with  the 
the  others,  to  resist  the  invincible  Dutchman,  soon 
followed  their  example  and  submitted.  All  that 
now  remained  to  the  Swedes  was  New  Gottenburg, 
with  its  fort  and  church,  but  when  this  was  sub- 
dued, which  occurred  soon  after,  the  provincial 
power  of  New  Sweden  was  effectually  destroyed, 
and  the  Dutch  obtained  possession  of  the  Dela- 
ware. 

It  was  said  the  Swedes  discovered  some  valuable 
gold  and  silver  mines  in  Delaware.  The  account 
given  by  Lindstrom  in  his  manuscript  journal,  as 
quoted  by  Gordon,  is  as  follows :  "  The  shore  before 
the  mountain  is  covered  with  pyrites.  When  the 
roundest  are  broken,  kernels  are  found  as  large  as 
small  peas,  containing  virgin  silver.  I  have  broken 


124  GOLD    ORE    OBTAINED. 

more  than  a  hundred.  A  savage  Unapois  beholding 
a  gold  ring  of  the  wife  of  Governor  Printz,  demand- 
ed  why  she  carried  such  a  trifle.  The  Governor  re* 
plied,  '  If  you  will  procure  me  such  trifles,  I  will 
reward  you  with  other  things  suitable  for  you.'  *  I 
know,'  said  the  Indian,  'a  mountain  filled  with 
such  metal.'  '  Behold,'  rejoined  the  Governor, 
*  what  I  will  give  you  for  a  specimen,'  presenting 
to  him  at  the  same  time  a  fathom  of  red  and  a  fath- 
om of  blue  frieze,  some  white-lead,  looking-glasses, 
bodkins  and  needles,  declaring  that  he  would  cause 
him  to  be  accompanied  by  two  of  his  soldiers.  But 
the  Indian  refusing  this  escort,  said  that  he  would 
first  go  for  a  specimen,  and  if  it  gave  satisfaction 
he  might  then  be  sent  back  with  some  of  the  gov- 
ernor's people.  He  promised  to  give  a  specimen, 
kept  the  presents,  and  went  away.  After  some  days 
he  returned  with  a  lump  of  ore  as  large  as  his 
doubled  fist,  of  which  the  Governor  made  proof, 
found  it  of  good  quality,  and  extracted  from  it  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  gold,  which  he  manufactured 
into  rings  and  bracelets.  He  promised  the  Indian 
further  presents  if  he  would  discover  the  situation 
of  this  mountain.  The  Indian  consented,  but  de- 
manded a  delay  of  a  few  days,  when  he  could  spare 
more  time.  Content  with  this  Printz  gave  him 
more  presents.  The  savage,  having  returned  to  hia 
nation,  boasted  of  his  gifts,  and  declared  the  reason 


INDIAN    OUTKA.GES  125 

of  their  presentation.  But  he  was  assassinated  by 
the  sachem  and  his  companions,  lest  he  should  be- 
tray the  situation  of  the  gold  mine,  they  fearing  its 
ruin  if  it  were  discovered  by  us.  It  is  still  unknown." 
It  is  not  unlikely  that  what  was  supposed  to  be  gold 
was  pyrites,  which  is  composed  of  sulphur,  iron, 
copper  and  cobalt,  or  nickel,  and  which  presents  a 
yellowish  golden  lustre.  It  has  often  been  mistaken 
for  the  precious  metal,  and  has  awakened  high  hopes 
which  were  destined  in  a  short  time  to  be  utterly 
blasted. 

In  the  year  1664  the  English,  who  for  a  long  time 
had  been  jealous  of  the  encroachments  of  the  Dutch, 
came  upon  them  with  a  considerable  army,  and  sub- 
jugated them  to  British  rule.  This  led  to  an  Europ- 
ean war  between  these  two  nations,  and  at  its  close 
the  English  held  all  the  places  which  they  had  taken, 
previous  to  the  outbreak  of  the  European  conflict. 

To  return  again  to  Maryland,  we  find  that  the 
colonists  there  were  frequently  harassed  by  the  In. 
dians.  Laws  were  passed  against  them ;  companies 
were  recruited  to  go  upon  their  settlements  and 
punish  them  for  their  cruelties.  They  stole  what- 
ever property  they  could  lay  their  hands  on ;  they 
murdered  the  men  whom  they  found  straying  from 
the  towns,  and  kidnapped  children  for  the  purpose 
of  receiving  for  them  a  high  ransom. 

On  one   occasion  two   children  of  Mr.  Thomas 


126  CHILDREN   STOLEN. 

Allen  were  seized  by  these  savages  and  carried 
away.  So  soon  as  it  was  known,  the  whole  colony 
were  greatly  excited,  and  measures  were  speedily 
adopted  to  ascertain  where  they  were  taken  and  by 
what  means  they  could  be  recovered.  Inquiries 
were  sent  to  the  Indians,  and  ere  long  it  was  dis- 
covered that  they  had  not  been  put  to  death,  but 
were  held  as  captives.  It  was  then  asked  whether 
they  could  be  ransomed ;  the  reply  of  the  savages 
was,  that  they  would  be  restored  upon  the  payment 
of  fifteen  hundred  pounds  of  tobacco.  A  circum- 
stance which  rendered  this  case  more  affecting  was, 
that  these  unfortunate  children  were  fatherless. 
Mr.  Allen  had  died  some  time  before,  and  the  little 
property  which  he  left  was  not  sufficient  to  redeem 
them  from  bondage.  Their  case  was  therefore  pre- 
sented to  the  provincial  court,  which,  after  hearing 
the  facts,  referred  it  to  the  Assembly.  The  disposi- 
tion, which  this  latter  body  made  of  these  children 
reflects  no  honor  upon  their  generosity.  Of  the  fif- 
teen hundred  pounds  of  tobacco,  which  was  asked 
as  the  redemption  price,  nine  hundred  was  to  be 
paid  for  the  oldest  and  six  hundred  for  the  youngest. 
The  order  by  the  Assembly  was,  that  "  the  said  two 
children  should  serve  any  inhabitant  of  the  province 
till  they  attain  to  their  several  ages  of  twenty  one 
years,  as  the  provincial  court  shall  think  fit;  such 
inhabitant  paying  the  said  charge  of  their  redemp- 


FAMOUS   NAVIGATION   ACT.  127 

tion."  According  to  this  order  the  children  were 
to  be  bound  out,  until  they  were  twenty-one  years 
old,  to  any  person  in  the  province  who  would  pay 
the  amount  required  for  their  ransom.  It  was  equiv- 
alent to  hiring  the  children  for  that  amount  until 
they  were  of  age.  The  reason  assigned  for  this 
singular  order  in  so  peculiar  a  case  was,  that  "  the 
public  charge  this  year  being  like  to  be  very  great 
and  burdensome." 

As  the  colonies  in  America  increased,  they  culti- 
vated the  land,  and  extended  their  trade  with  the 
Indians,  and  in  these  ways  were  enabled  to  send  to 
England  a  considerable  amount  of  merchandise  of 
the  natural  productions  of  the  country.  This  gave 
employment  to  vessels  and  men.  But  as  the  Hol- 
landers, or  Dutch,  would  transport  freight  across 
the  Atlantic  at  a  lower  rate  than  the  English,  they 
monopolized  nearly  all  the  carrying  trade.  English 
merchants  themselves  employed  Dutch  vessels. 
Thus  English  ships,  for  want  of  employment,  were 
going  to  decay  at  the  wharves,  and  English  sailors 
were  compelled  to  enter  the  service  of  the  Dutch. 

The  English  Parliament,  in  order  to  arrest  a  state 
of  things  so  ruinous  to  their  commerce,  passed  what 
has  been  termed  "  the  famous  Navigation  Act,"  the 
leading  feature  of  which  was:  "That  no  merchandise 
either  of  Asia,  Africa,  or  America,  including  also  the 
English  plantations  there,  should  be  imported  into 


128  DUTCH    COMMERCE   DESTROYED. 

England  in  any  but  English  built  ships,  and  belong- 
ing  either  to  English,  or  English  plantation,  sub- 
jects, navigated  also  by  an  English  commander,  and 
three  fourths  of  the  sailors  to  be  Englishmen."  By 
this  act  the  business  of  the  Dutch,  as  carriers  of 
freight  between  the  English  colonies  and  the 
mother-country,  was  effectually  destroyed,  and  a 
fresh  impetus  given  to  the  employment  of  English 
vessels  and  men  for  that  purpose. 


CHAPTER    X. 

A  remarkable  Fact — Political  Troubles — Seizure  of  Arms  and  Ammunition 
Eesisting  Authority— The  Governor's  Protest— A  noble  Kesolution— A 
Boat  seized— Terrific  Threatenings— A  Council  of  War— The  Golden 
Lion— A  deceptive  Trick— Stone  fired  upon— A  Battle— The  Victory— 
The  Prisoners— The  first  Account  sent  Home— Eeconciliation  between 
Protestants  and  Catholics. 

THE  efforts  which  were  made  by  Lord  Baltimore, 
at  different  times,  to  increase  the  number  of  his 
colonies,  proved  successful,  though  some  of  the 
emigrants  occasioned  him  no  small  amount  of 
trouble.  Indeed,  it  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that 
though  Maryland  was  originally  settled  as  a  Roman 
Catholic  colony,  in  order  to  provide,  among  other 
objects,  a  safe  retreat  from  persecution  for  the 
Catholics  in  the  mother-country,  arid  though  its 
proprietary  and  principal  officers  were,  at  first,  of 
that  religious  persuasion,  yet  in  the  course  of  a  few 
years  the  controlling  power  passed  from  them  into 
the  hands  of  the  Protestants.  Two  important 
events  occurred  which  proved  fatal  to  the  political 
power  of  the  Catholics  in  Maryland ;  the  first  was 
the  great  increase  of  the  Puritans  there,  especially 
after  they  had  been  driven  by  persecution  from 


130  POLITICAL   TROUBLES. 

Virginia,  and  the  other  was  the  seizure  by  the 
Puritans  of  the  reins  of  government  in  England, 
under  the  administration  of  Oliver  Cromwell. 

At  the  time  of  Cromwell's  elevation  to  the 
supreme  power  of  England,  Mr.  Stone  was  gover- 
nor of  Maryland.  In  1654  he  was  compelled,  mainly 
through  the  influence  of  the  Puritans,  to  relinquish 
his  office,  which  he  held  under  Lord  Baltimore,  in 
order  that  the  colony  might  be  governed  by  com- 
missioners under  the  Lord  Protector  of  England, 
as  Cromwell  was  called. 

When  intelligence  of  this  state  of  things  reached 
England,  Lord  Baltimore  was,  as  might  be  expected, 
greatly  displeased.  He  wrote  to  Stone,  censuring 
him  for  his  conduct.  He  was  also  informed  that 
Cromwell  had  not  taken  from  Lord  Baltimore 
either  his  patent  or  his  lands.  It  followed  from 
this  representation  that  those  who  had  compelled 
the  governor  to  relinquish  his  office  had  acted  with- 
out  authority.  Stone  was  stimulated  to  resume 
his  position  as  governor.  He  at  once  began  to 
appoint  military  officers  and  organize  an  armed 
force  for  the  purpose  of  strengthening  himself  ID 
the  government. 

Among  the  commissioners  who  had  assisted  in 
the  previous .  overthrow  of  Stone,  were  Captain 
Fuller  and  Mr.  Richard  Preston,  the  latter  of 
whom  had  possession  of  the  records  of  the  provin  ce. 


SEIZTJKE    OF   ARMS.  131 

These  records  Governor  Stone  caused  to  be  seized 
by  a  company  of  soldiers  whom  he  sent  to  the 
Patuxent  river  (where  Preston  lived)  for  that  pur- 
pose. This  bold  and  decisive  act  led  to  fatal  hos- 
tilities. When  this  seizure  of  the  records  was 
made  known  to  the  Council  of  Commissioners,  they 
sent  messengers  to  make  peaceful  inquiries  of  Stone 
as  to  his  authority  for  his  conduct.  "  But  the  said 
Captain  Stone,  instead  of  giving  a  satisfactory  an- 
swer, imprisoned  the  messengers,  and  in  much 
wrath  and  fury  said  he  would  show  no  power ;  at 
last  he  affirmed  that  he  acted  by  authority  from 
Lord  Baltimore,  and  that  the  Lord  Protector  had 
confirmed  the  Lord  Baltimore's  power.  'If  so,  sir,' 
said  one  of  the  messengers,  '  if  it  be  confirmed,  let 
that  appear  and  it  will  satisfy.'  '  Confirmed  !'  said 
Captain  Stone,  '  I  '11  confirm  it ;'  and  so  sent  them 
home."* 

In  addition  to  the  records,  Mr.  Preston's  house 
contained  a  considerable  amount  of  arms  and  ammu- 
nition. Governor  Stone  thought  that  safety  re- 
quired the  seizure  of  all  these.  He,  therefore,  sent 
a  company  of  armed  men,  twenty  in  number,  to 
take  possession  of  them.  They  were  under  the 
command  of  William  Eltonhead  and  Josias  Fendal. 
They  cautiously  approached  Preston's  house,  and 
while  some,  who  had  been  appointed  for  that  pur- 
*  Strong's  Babylon's  Fall,  in  Bozman. 


132  STONE'S  EXPEDITION. 

pose,  surrounded  it,  others  entered  it  and  com- 
menced a  careful  search.  Preston  himself  was  no- 
where to  be  found'.  Guns,  swords,  and  ammunition 
to  the  value  of  thirty  pounds  sterling  were  discov- 
ered and  seized.  They  then  entered  other  houses 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  took  possession  of  all 
weapons  and  ammunition  that  they  found  there. 
In  addition  to  the  seizure  of  these  warlike  stores, 
they  also  took  prisoners  Preston's  deputy  clerk, 
John  Sutton — who  had  been  appointed  "  to  attend 
the  records  for  any  who  should  have  occasion  to 
use  them,  either  for  search  or  copy," — and  also 
Peter  Johnson,  who  held  the  office  of  lieutenant. 
These  were  detained  as  prisoners  some  twenty  days. 
This  first  movement  of  Stone  having  been  so 
successful,  he  next  attempted  the  reduction  of  a 
settlement  called  Providence,  but  now  known  as 
Ann  Arundel.  For  this  object  he  collected  togeth- 
er about  two  hundred  men  of  St.  Mary's  county, 
who  volunteered  their  services,  and  eleven  or  twelve 
small  vessels  to  transport  them  across  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  as  they  intended  to  march  along  the 
shores  of  the  bay.  The  little  army  set  out  in  the 
beginning  of  April,  1654.  On  their  way,  and 
before  they  had  reached  Herring  Creek,  in  Ann 
Arundel  county,  they  were  met  by  a  boat  filled 
with  messengers  from  the  government  at  Ann 
Arundel,  and  bringing  a  letter  to  Governor  Stone, 


ALAEMING   THREATS.  133 

.protesting  against  his  proceedings,  and  asking  by 
what  authority  he  acted,  and  whether  he  had  re- 
solved to  avoid  all  negotiation  upon  the  subject,  at 
the  same  time  declaring  "  that  by  the  help  of  God 
they  were  resolved  to  commit  themselves  into  the 
hand  of  God  and  die  like  men,  rather  than  live  like 
slaves."  Instead  of  returning  any  answer  to  this 
message,  Stone  seized  the  boat  and  made  the  mes- 
sengers prisoners.  They  guarded  these,  however, 
so  negligently  that  three  of  them  managed  to 
escape,  and  carry  back  to  the  government  at  Ann 
Arundel  an  account  of  their  treatment,  and  of  the 
approach  of  Stone  with  a  hostile  force. 

When  the  governor  and  his  company  of  volun- 
teers arrived  at  Herring  Creek,  they  found  there  a 
gentleman  who  had  been  appointed  one  of  the  com- 
missioners to  manage  the  affairs  of  government, 
after  Stone  had  been  deposed.  Him  they  seized 
and  held  as  a  prisoner.  As  Strong  relates  it,  they 
"  apprehended  one  of  the  commissioners,  and  forced 
another  man  of  quality  to  fly  for  his  life,  having 
threatened  to  hang  him  up  at  his  own  door,  and  not 
finding  the  man,  affrighted  his  wife,  and  plundered 
the  house  of  ammunition  and  provision,  threatening 
Btill  what  they  would  do  to  the  people  at  Provi- 
dence (Ann  Arundel),  and  that  they  would  force  the 
rebellious,  factious  Roundheads  to  submit,  and  then 

they  would  show  their  power." 
12 


134  A    COUNCIL    OF   WAR. 

After  this,  the  governor  sent  Dr.  Barber  and  Mr. 
Coursey  as  his  messengers  to  Ann  Arundel  with  a 
proclamation,  in  which  he  professed  he  did  not  come 
to  them  to  inflict  upon  them  injury,  but  to  bring 
them  to  submit  quietly  to  his  rule.  When  these  mes- 
sengers arrived  at  Ann  Arundel,  they  were  per- 
mitted to  read  the  governor's  proclamation,  but  as 
they  had  nothing  else  to  offer,  they  were  then  permit- 
ted to  return.  This,  however,  they  did  not  do.  The 
next  day  Stone  sent  another  messenger;  neither  did 
he  return,  because,  perhaps,  the  near  approach  of 
the  army  seemed  to  render  it  unnecessary.  As  no 
measures  were  taken  by  the  people  of  Ann  Arundel 
to  give  in  their  adhesion  to  the  government  of 
Stone,  the  aggressive  army  continued  their  ap- 
proach, until,  on  the  evening  of  the  day  that  the 
last  messenger  arrived,  the  whole  army  of  the  gov- 
ernor, consisting,  as  we  have  stated,  of  about  two 
hundred  men,  and  twelve  vessels,  presented  them- 
selves in  the  river  before  the  little  town,  which  was 
filled  with  excitement  at  this  warlike  array.  A 
council  of  war  was  immediately  called  by  Captain 
Fuller,  to  decide  upon  the  best  course  of  procedure 
in  the  trying  circumstances  in  which  they  were 
placed. 

In  the  river  was  a  merchant  ship,  named  the 
Golden  Lyon,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Hamans.  The  conclusion  which  was  reached  by 


THE    GOLDEN   LYON.  135 

the  council  of  war  was,  that  Mr.  William  Durand, 
the  secretary  of  the  government,  should  go  on 
board  the  Golden  Lyon,  and  fasten  to  the  main- 
mast a  proclamation,  directed  to  the  captain,  re- 
quiring him,  "  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Protector 
and  Commonwealth  of  England,  and  for  the  main- 
tenance of  the  just  liberties,  lives  and  estates  of  the 
free  subjects  thereof,  against  an  unjust  power,  to  be 
aiding  and  assisting  in  this  service."  Captain 
Hamans  at  first  declined  engaging  in  the  approach- 
ing contest,  but  upon  further  reflection,  he  offered 
himself,  ship  and  men,  for  the  service,  under  the  di- 
rection of  Durand.  It  is  supposed  that  Hamans 
was  actually  hired  by  the  government  of  Ann 
Arundel  to  render  them  assistance,  and  that  this 
nailing  of  the  proclamation  to  the  mainmast  was 
only  a  piece  of  deception  to  make  it  appear  that  he 
was  impressed  into  their  service,  the  whole  trick 
having  been  previously  agreed  upon  bv  those  con- 
cerned. 

When  the  invading  fleet  had  arrived  within  the 
outer  harbor  of  Providence,  a  shot  was  fired  toward 
them  from  the  Golden  Lyon,  with  a  view,  it  was 
said,  to  induce  them  to  send  a  messenger  on  board. 
But  Stone,  who  regarded  it  as  a  signal  of  war,  paid 
no  attention  to  it,  but  continued  to  sail  on  with  his 
fleet,  until  he  entered  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  on 
the  south  of  the  peninsula  upon  which  Annapolis 


136  GOVERNOR    STONE   FIRED   UPON. 

now  stands.  He  then  commenced  landing  hia 
troops,  and  while  engaged  in  this,  the  guns  of  the 
Golden  Lyon  were  again  opened  upon  him,  sending 
the  shot  in  such  dangerous  proximity  to  him  that 
he  considered  it  best  to  dispatch  a  messenger  to 
the  Golden  Lyon,  to  inquire  into  the  reason  of 
the  firing,  and  to  inform  the  coimnander  of  the 
vessel  that  Governor  Stone  thought  "  the  captain 
of  the  ship  had  been  satisfied,"  from  which  it  would 
seem  that  Hamans  and  Stone  had  previously  had 
some  communications  with  each  other,  with  which 
Hamans  had  professed  to  be,  or  appeared  to  be, 
satisfied.  Whatever  he  might  have  said  before,  he 
now  replied,  in  a  rough,  blustering  manner,  to  the 
messenger,  "  Satisfied  with  what?  I  never  saw  any 
power  Captain  Stone  had  to  do  as  he  hath  done, 
but  the  superscription  of  a  letter.  I  must  and  will 
appear  for  these  in  a  good  cause." 

Governor  Stone,  as  a  precautionary  measure,  re- 
moved his  vessels  under  the  cover  of  the  night, 
further  up  the  creek.  When  this  was  discovered 
the  other  managed  to  place  one  or  more  vessels  with 
two  cannons  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  and  in  this 
manner  shut  Stone  in  by  a  blockade.  Soon  after 
this  Stone  paraded  his  men  on  the  shore,  and  while 
going  through  Avith  his  military  exercises,  the  cap- 
tain of  the  Golden  Lyon  fired  upon  arid  killed  one 
of  their  number.  This  compelled  the  miniature 


A    BATTLE.  137 

array  to  move  further  off.  During  this  time  Cap- 
tain Fuller  with  a  hundred  and  twenty  men  went 
further  up  the  creek  in  boats,  then  disembarked  and 
marched  round  to  where  Stone  and  his  company 
were  prepared  to  give  them  a  warm  reception. 
Captain  Fuller  hoping  even  to  the  last  that  Stone 
and  his  Marylanders  might  furnish  some  satisfactory 
reason  for  this  invasion,  ordered  his  men,  upon  pain 
of  death,  not  to  fire  a  gun,  nor  make  any  attack 
until  they  had  first  been  fired  upon  by  the  invaders. 
The  standard  of  the  commonwealth  of  England, 
under  which  he  marched,  was  planted  in  a  conspic- 
uous place.  At  this  Stone  and  his  party  fired  five 
or  six  guns  and  killed  one  man.  This  was  consider- 
ed by  Fuller  a  sufficient  provocation  for  an  imme- 
diate onset.  "  Then  the  word  was  given,  c  In  the 
name  of  God  fall  on  /  God  is  our  strength  ! ' — that 
was  the  word  for  Providence.  The  Marylander's 
word  was : — ''Hey  for  Saint  Maries?  The  charge 
was  fierce  and  sharp  for  the  time  ;  but  through  the 
glorious  presence  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  manifested 
in  and  toward  his  poor  oppressed  people,  the  enemy 
could  not  endure,  but  gave  back ;  and  were  so  ef- 
fectually charged  home  that  they  were  all  routed, 
turned  their  backs,  threw  down  their  arms,  and 
begged  mercy.  After  the  first  volley  of  shot,  a  small 
company  of  the  enemy,  from  behind  a  great  tree 
fallen,  galled  us  and  wounded  divers  of  our  men, 


138  THE    VICTORY. 

but  were  soon  beaten  off.  Of  the  whole  company 
of  the  Marylanders  there  escaped  only  four  or  five, 
who  run  away  out  of  the  army  to  carry  news  to 
their  confederates.  Captain  Stone,  Colonel  Price, 
Captain  Gerrard,  Captain  Lewis,  Captain  Kendall, 
Captain  Guitter,  Major  Chandler,  and  all  the  rest 
of  the  counsellors,  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Lord 
Baltimore,  among  whom,  both  commanders  and  sol- 
diers, a  great  number  being  Papists,  were  taken,  and 
so  were  all  their  vessels,  arms,  ammunition,  provision; 
about  fifty  men  slain  and  wounded.  We  lost  only 
two  on  the  field ;  but  two  died  since  of  their  wounds. 
God  did  appear  wonderful  in  the  field,  and  in  the 
hearts  of  the  people ;  all  confessing  him  to  be  the 
only  worker  of  this  victory  and  deliverance." 

Such  is  the  Puritans'  account  of  this  unfortunate 
catastrophe,  and  which  must  be  received  with  all 
due  allowance,  as  coming  from  those  who  were 
parties  in  the  affair.  It  certainly  seems  remarkable 
that  there  was  so  great  a  disparity  between  the 
slain  and  wounded — there  being  fifty  on  one  side, 
and  four  on  the  other,  if  the  whole  truth  were  told. 
But  this  was  probably  not  the  case.  The  account 
gives  the  whole  number  of  the  slain  and  wounded 
on  the  side  of  the  Catholics  in  one  sum,  from  which 
we  can  not  tell  how  many  were  slain,  or  how  many 
were  only  wounded ;  as  it  respects  the  Puritans,  it 
states  only  how  many  were  slain,  but  says  nothing 


A   PUBLIC   EXECUTION.  139 

of  the  number  of  the  merely  wounded.  This  was 
not  ingenious ;  for  the  casual  reader  would  receive 
the  impression  that  there  were  only  four  of  that 
party  anywise  injured,  while  the  careful  reader  has 
no  means  of  showing  that  this  impression  is  not 
correct. 

Another  event  connected  with  this  painful  colli- 
sion, and  not  stated  in  the  Puritan  account  is,  that 
after  the  Catholics  had  all  yielded,  and  were  taken 
prisoners,  except  the  few  who  fled,  a  court-martial 
was  held  by  the  Puritans  who  tried  the  prisoners, 
sentenced  ten  of  them  to  death  and  executed  four. 
The  other  six  who  were  condemned  were  saved  by 
the  incessant  perseverance  of  certain  good  women, 
who  continued  interceding  for  them  until  their  de- 
liverance was  secured.  They  were  aided  by  some  of 
the  soldiers,  who  sympathized  with  them  in  their 
benevolent  efforts.  This  execution  of  four  prisoners 
of  war,  reflects  no  honor  upon  either  the  justice  or 
the  humanity  of  the  conquerors. 

This  entire  defeat  of  the  Catholic  party  in  their 
efforts  to  overthrow  the  Puritan  administration  of 
affairs,  served  to  confirm  and  strengthen  the  Puri- 
tan government  throughout  the  whole  province. 

As  Oliver  Cromwell  at  this  time  was  at  the  head 
of  the  affairs  of  England,  and  as  the  Colonies  of 
Maryland  were  subject  to  the  government  of  Eng- 
land, each  of  the  contending  parties  in  the 


140  CROMWELL'S  DECISION  DELAYED. 

conflict  were  anxious  to  present  their  account  of 
these  transactions  to  Oliver  as  early  as  possible,  and 
to  justify  their  conduct  before  him. 

Governor  Stone  and  his  counsellors  were  detained 
as  prisoners  a  considerable  length  of  time  at  Ann 
Arundel,  and  during  this  period  they  could  not,  of 
course,  give  any  account  of  their  affairs  or  conduct 
to  the  home  government.  Stone,  even,  was  not  al- 
lowed to  write  to  his  wife,  except  his  letters  were 
first  examined  by  his  conquerors.  This  gave  the 
Puritans  time  to  forward  their  account  to  Cromwell 
first.  It  has  been  alleged  that  this  was  their  object 
in  keeping  the  Catholics  prisoners  so  long. 

Another  measure  of  the  victorious  Puritans, 
which  has  received  the  condemnation  of  historians, 
was  their  sequestration  of  all  the  property  of  Gov- 
ernor Stone  and  those  who  had  acted  with  him  in 
the  recent  conflict. 

Although  the  Puritans  now  had  the  control  of 
the  government  of  Maryland,  they  were  not  des- 
tined long  to  hold  it.  Intelligence  of  all  that  had 
been  done  was  forwarded  to  Lord  Baltimore  and 
to  Oliver  Cromwell.  Every  measure  was  adopted 
by  both  parties  to  secure  a  decision  in  their  re- 
spective favor  from  the  lord  protector  at  home. 
Cromwell,  however,  was  not  inclined  to  enter  mi- 
nutely into  the  matter.  He  referred  it  to  others  for 
examination.  There  was  much  delay  in  getting  a 


COMPROMISE.  141 

decision.  He  seemed  to  treat  the  Puritans  of  Mary- 
land with  coolness.  The  report  made  by  those  to 
whom  he  referred  the  subject  was  favorable  to 
Lord  Baltimore.  Still,  Cromwell  did  not  ratify  it. 
He  pleaded  a  want  of  time,  arising  from  more  press- 
ing and  important  affairs.  The  victorious  party  in 
Maryland  became  satisfied  that  they  would  not  be 
protected  in  their  administration  of  the  govern- 
ment. The  indications  were  that  the  authority  of 
Lord  Baltimore  would,  before  long,  become  para- 
mount in  Maryland.  The  Puritans,  therefore, 
thought  it  would  be  the  wiser  course  for  them  to 
effect  a  settlement  between  themselves  and  the 
Catholics,  upon  some  basis  of  compromise  that 
would  be  acceptable  to  both  parties.  Accord- 
ingly such  a  basis  was  drawn  up,  both  parties 
agreed  to  it,  and  upon  its  being  duly  signed  and 
sealed,  the  Puritans  relinquished  to  the  Catholics 
the  government  of  the  province.  Thus  Lord  Bal- 
timore was  enabled  to  resume  his  authority  in  Mary, 
land,  after  being  deprived  of  it  about  six  years. 


CHAPTER  XL 

Peace  and  Prosperity — A  great  Country — Its  possession  desirable — Origin 
of  the  French  War— Chain  of  Forts— Preparations  for  a  Campaign- 
Franklin's  patriotism — Braddock's  arrival — George  Washington  be- 
comes his  Aid-de-camp — Washington  Sick — A  Wagon  his  Hospital — 
March  of  the  Army— A  beautiful  sight -An  invisible,  terrible  Foe— An 
Indian  Ambush — Surprises  the  Army — Washington's  Perils  and  Escapes 
—The  Killed  and  Wounded — Singular  Interview  between  Washington 
and  an  Indian— The  Indian's  Story— His  Keverence  for  Washington. 

FOB  a  long  series  of  years  the  history  of  Mary- 
land was  marked  by  peace  and  prosperity.  Vari- 
ous misfortunes,  which  other  American  colonies 
experienced,  she  escaped.  New  settlements  were 
formed,  new  towns  sprung  up,  new  lands  were  cul- 
tivated, and  the  number  of  inhabitants,  so  essential 
to  the  power  and  prosperity  of  a  community,  was 
greatly  increased.  In  1756  the  population  of  Mary- 
land was  estimated  at  154,188,  of  whom  nearly 
108,000  were  whites,  and  over  46,000  were  blacks. 

In  1754,  a  war  broke  out  between  the  English 
and  French,  in  which  the  American  colonies  took 
an  active  part,  which  furnished  occasion  for  the  dis- 
play of  great  bravery  on  the  part  of  officers  and 
troops  from  Maryland. 


ORIGIN    OF   THE   FRENCH    WAR.  143 

To  the  minds  of  thoughtful  and  ambitious  men, 
it  was  evident  that  the  acquisition  of  large  portions 
of  the  American  continent  was  extremely  desirable. 
Here  was  a  country  of  some  thousands  of  miles  in 
extent ;  channeled  by  mighty  rivers,  that  inter- 
sected it  in  every  direction ;  covered  extensively 
by  forests,  capable  of  furnishing  wood  and  timber 
to  meet  nearly  the  demands  of  the  world  ;  with  in- 
exhaustible stores  of  mineral  wealth  ;  and  a  climate 
so  varied  as  to  be  favorable  to  the  productions  of 
all  the  zones.  As  by  the  multiplicity  of  colonies 
which  were  dotting  its  surface,  its  resources  were 
being  developed,  it  is  not  at  all  surprising  that  the 
cupidity  of  individuals  and  nations  was  excited  to 
obtain  as  large  a  share  of  these  benefits  as  possible. 

It  was  natural  also  that  the  French,  who  were 
among  the  earliest  explorers  and  settlers  of  the 
continent,  should  feel  that  they  had  a  special  claim 
to,  at  least,  a  generous  share  of  the  New  World. 
As  the  French,  at  that  time,  had  settlements  in 
Canada  and  in  Louisiana,  the  Governor  of  Canada 
projected  the  bold  enterprise  of  connecting  these 
widely  separated  colonies  by  a  chain  of  forts,  ex- 
tending along  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers,  and 
occupying,  in  some  places,  lands  already  claimed 
by  the  English.  Some  few  years  previous  to  this, 
there  had  been  grants  of  territory,  west  of  the 
Alleghanies,  made  to  an  association  called  the 


144  PREPARATIONS   FOR   WAR. 

Ohio  Company.  In  order  to  increase  their  facilities 
for  trading  with  the  Indians,  this  Company  erected 
a  number  of  posts  extending  between  the  colonies 
on  the  Atlantic  coast  and  the  Ohio  river.  To  these 
points  the  Indians  were  accustomed  to  bring  their 
furs  and  exchange  them  for  English  toys  and  manu- 
factures. When  the  Canadian  governor  commenced 
the  construction  of  his  chain  of  forts,  by  which  he 
intended  to  bind  all  this  vast  country  to  the  throne 
of  France,  these  trading-posts  of  the  English  pre- 
sented obstructions.  Not  only  must  they,  as  points 
of  English  jurisdiction,  be  removed  out  of  the  way, 
but  as  they  occupied  important  locations,  and  were 
known  to  the  different  tribes  of  Indians,  they  must 
be  destroyed,  or  be  converted  to  the  use  of  the 
French.  Accordingly,  these  trading-posts  were 
attacked  by  the  French,  taken,  and  pillaged,  and 
the  traders  made  prisoners.  Other  positions  were 
also  selected  and  fortified,  in  order  to  keep  open  a 
communication  between  Quebec  and  New  Orleans, 
along  the  line  of  the  Alleghany,  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
rivers.  This  led  to  an  open  rupture  between  the 
two  nations,  and  a  war  was  the  consequence.  In 
this  war  Maryland  took  an  active  part.  She  sent 
forth  her  brave  sons,  organized  into  companies  of 
rangers  and  frontier  guards,  to  assist  in  the  protec- 
tion of  the  exposed  border  settlements,  which  lay 
open  to  the  first  attacks  of  the  enraged  enemy.  IP 


SUPPOET   FOR   DISABLED    SOLDIERS.  145 

September,  1753,  Captain  Dagworthy,  Lieutenants 
Forty  and  Bacon,  having  under  their  commands 
two  companies,  departed  from  Annapolis,  for  the 
endangered  western  frontier.  The  next  year  some 
companies  united  with  those  of  North  Carolina  and 
Virginia  in  an  expedition  against  Fort  Duquesne. 
Delay  ensued  in  consequence  of  the  small  number 
of  the  troops,  as  compared  with  those  of  the  enemy. 
Vigorous  measures  were  adopted  to  increase  their 
number,  and  insure  the  success  of  the  enterprise. 
All  the  forces  which  were  raised  to  march  against 
the  French  on  the  Ohio  were  placed  under  the 
command  of  Governor  Sharpe  of  Maryland.  As 
the  number  of  troops  was  not  sufficiently  large,  the 
General  Assembly  of  Maryland  was  convened,  and 
enacted  a  law  to  encourage  the  enlistment  of  troops, 
in  which  was  the  provision  that,  if  any  citizen  of  the 
province  received  wounds  which  destroyed  his 
ability  to  support  himself,  he  should  be  maintained 
at  the  public  expense.  At  a  subsequent  session 
held  in  February,  the  General  Assembly  passed 
laws  to  regulate  the  transportation  of  the  military 
stores,  and  the  mode  of  quartering  the  soldiers 
upon  the  inhabitants.  They  also  prohibited,  by 
severe  penalties,  every  inhabitant  from  furnishing 
the  enemy  with  provisions  or  any  material  for  war. 
While  these  preparations  were  in  progress  for 
the  anticipated  struggle,  the  hearts  of  the  colonists 
13 


146  BRADDOCK'S  ARRANGEMENTS. 

were  greatly  cheered  by  the  arrival  from  Great 
Britain  of  General  Braddock  with  two  regiments 
of  regular  troops.  The  confidence  of  the  colonists 
in  the  success  of  the  expedition  was  now  fully  es^ 
tablished ;  it  seemed  to  them  that  all  that  was  want- 
ing to  drive  the  French  home,  or  to  whiten  the  fields 
with  their  bones,  was  the  march  of  the  English  army 
to  the  scene  of  the  coming  conflict.  But  although 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  people  was  great,  yet  there 
was  great  reluctance  on  their  part  to  furnish  horses, 
teamsters  and  wagons  for  the  transportation  of 
the  military  stores  and  material  of  all  kinds  to 
the  scene  pf  action.  Many,  however,  were  pressed 
into  the  service,  and  many  were  hired.  Benjamin 
Franklin,  with  great  patriotism,  hired  a  hundred  and 
fifty  wagons  by  giving  his  own  bonds  to  indemnify 
the  owners  against  loss.  This  generous  movement 
subjected  him  afterward  to  great  inconvenience,  as 
many  of  these  wagons  were  lost  or  destroyed. 

As  Braddock  was  fearful  that  the  French  would 
intrench  themselves  in  large  numbers  at  Fort  Du- 
quesne,  now  called  Pittsburg,  he  considered  it  a 
matter  of  considerable  importance  for  him  to  press 
on,  and,  if  possible,  surprise  the  enemy  and  cut  them 
off.  He  accordingly  selected  twelve  hundred  men, 
and  pushed  forward,  leaving  the  remainder  of  the 
army  to  follow  more  at  their  leisure.  George  "Wash- 
ington, who  bore  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  who  had 


WASHINGTON    SICK   IN   A   WAGON.  147 

had  some  experience  in  actual  conflict  with  the  In- 
dians, accepted  an  invitation  from  General  Braddock 
to  become  his  aid-de-camp  and  one  of  the  members 
of  his  military  family.  He  therefore  accompanied 
Braddock  on  this  memorable  and  fatal  enterprise. 

The  army  made  slow  progress  toward  the  field  of 
operations.  The  roads  being  new  and  rough,  the 
usual  number  of  horses  were  unable  to  draw  the 
wagons,  so  heavily  were  they  loaded.  To  hasten 
their  march,  it  became  necessary  to  leave  behind 
all  superfluous  baggage,  and  take  with  them  only 
those  things  that  were  absolutely  necessary.  The 
army,  in  two  divisions,  pressed  on,  General  Braddock 
being  with  the  advanced  portion.  Unfortunately 
Colonel  Washington  was  taken  down  with  a  violent 
fever  which  threatened  his  life.  The  physician  was 
alarmed.  Braddock  ordered  him  to  pause  in  his 
march,  and  go  no  further  until  he  recovered.  It 
seems  as  if  Washington  was  not  particularly  pleased 
with  this  order,  for  the  general  gave  him  "  a  solemn 
pledge  that  he  should  be  brought  up  to  the  front 
of  the  army  before  it  should  reach  the  French  fort."* 
With  a  wagon  for  his  hospital,  he  was  under  the 
physician's  care  nearly  a  fortnight,  at  the  end  of 
which  period  he  was  enabled  to  advance,  though 
very  slowly  and  with  great  suffering,  in  consequence 
of  the  incessant  jolting  of  the  wagon  over  the  rough 
*  Spark's  Washington. 


148  A   BEAUTIFUL   SCENE. 

roads.  He  succeeded,  however,  in  reaching  Brad 
dock  at  the  Youghiogeny  river  on  the  evening  pre- 
ceding the  battle. 

The  troops  were  now  in  fine  spirits.  They  were 
within  a  few  miles  of  Fort  Duquesne,  and  felt  fully 
confident  that  in  a  few  hours  they  would  be  its 
master. 

Early  on  the  9th  of  July,  1755,  the  army,  with 
all  their  train,  crossed  the  river  and  continued  their 
march  along  the  southern  shore  of  the  Monongahela. 
"Washington  was  often  heard  to  say  during  his 
lifetime,  that  the  most  beautiful  spectacle  he  ever 
beheld  was  the  display  of  British  troops  on  this 
eventful  morning.  Every  man  was  neatly  dressed 
in  full  uniform;  the  soldiers  were  arranged  in 
columns,  and  marched  in  exact  order;  the  sun 
gleamed  from  their  burnished  arms ;  the  river  flow- 
ed tranquilly  on  their  right,  and  the  deep  forest 
overshadowed  them  with  solemn  grandeur  on  their 
left.  Officers  and  men  were  equally  inspirited  with 
cheering  hopes  and  confident  anticipations."  They 
had  crossed  the  river  once,  but  about  noon  they 
were  obliged  to  pass  over  it  again.  About  a  mile 
or  so  from  the  shore,  on  the  opposite  side,  was  a  hill 
covered  more  or  less  with  trees.  Up  this  hill  passed 
the  road  that  led  to  the  fort.  All  the  army  safely 
crossed  the  river.  They  were  then  organized  into 
three  divisions.  Three  hundred,  under  Colon  el 


AN   INVISIBLE   FOE.  149 

Gage,  constituted  the  advance  party,  and  were  sent 
on  ahead.  The  next  consisted  of  two  hundred, 
after  which  came  General  Braddock  with  the  main 
body  of  the  army,  the  artillery,  and  all  the  baggage. 
Some  distance  intervened  between  these  divisions. 
Having  crossed  the  river  without  experiencing  any 
embarrassment  from  the  enemy,  they  cherished  the 
hope  of  reaching  the  fort  without  opposition.  Not 
a  single  foe  was  any  where  to  be  seen.  To  all  ap- 
pearance the  country  was  as  uninhabited  as  on  the 
morning  of  creation.  But  appearances  were  deceit- 
ful. A  numerous,  courageous,  and  blood-thirsty 
enemy  were  then  in  front  of  them,  watching  every 
movement,  and  waiting  only  for  a  favorable  mo- 
ment to  indicate  their  presence  by  sending  among 
the  unsuspicious  soldiers  their  iron-messengers  of 
death.  About  one  o'clock,  as  Colonel  Gage's  divis- 
ion were  ascending  the  hill,  the  whole  army  were 
startled  by  hearing  a  discharge  of  musketry.  A 
shower  of  balls  was  poured  into  the  front  of 
Gage's  company,  doing  dreadful  execution.  The 
enemy  were  invisible.  The  blue  smoke  rising  up 
after  every  discharge,  revealed  that  the  firing  came 
from  the  trees.  The  soldiers,  taken  by  surprise,  and 
attacked  so  vigorously  by  an  unseen  foe,  were  panic- 
stricken.  They  fired  into  the  woods  at  random, 
but  without  producing  any  execution.  General 
Braddock  pressed  hastily  forward  with  his  troops  to 
13* 


150 


A    FATAL    AMBUSH. 


support  them,  but  before  he  reached  them,  Gage's 
men  retreated,  and  fell  back  upon  the  artillery, 
which  was  coming  to  their  aid,  and  threw  the 


t 


whole  army  into 
confusion.  Igno- 
rant as  to  who  the 
enemy  w^re,  or 
what  were  their 
number,  or  in  INDIAN  AMBUSH. 

what    way     they 

could  be  effectually  reached,  and  seeing  their  offi- 
cers and  comrades  falling  around   them,  at  every 


COUEAGE    OF   THE   VIRGINIANS.  151 

discharge  from  their  mysterious  foe,  they  became 
so  panic-stricken  that  they  huddled  together  like 
frightened  sheep  when  wolves  are  prowling  around 
them;  they  fired  their  guns  at  random,  shooting 
down  more  of  their  own  company  than  of  the  ene- 
my. The  cool  and  the  excited  efforts  of  the  officers 
to  restore  order  were  equally  unsuccessful.  No 
motives,  no  appeals,  no  commands  were,  by  any 
considerable  number,  heeded,  if  we  except  the  pro- 
vincials from  Virginia,  who  deserve  the  credit  of 
exhibiting  greater  coolness  and  discretion  than  any 
others.  If  their  example  had  been  imitated  by  all 
the  rest  of  the  army,  they  might  have  driven  the 
enemy  before  them,  taken  possession  of  the  fort, 
and  returned  home  in  triumph.  These  Virginians 
adopted  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare.  Each  man 
betook  himself  to  a  tree,  from  behind  which  he 
fired,  whenever  an  arm,  head,  or  any  portion  of  an 
enemy  could  be  seen.  But  Braddock  seems  to  have 
despised  this  skulking  mode  of  battle.  It  was  at 
variance  with  the  rules  of  his  profession.  He  there- 
fore forbade  it,  and  busied  himself  in  vain  efforts  to 
form  his  men,  according  to  the  rules  of  military 
tactics,  into  regular  platoons  and  columns.  But 
while  he  was  engaged  in  these  futile  endeavors,  the 
French  and  Indians,  in  the  concealment  of  ravines, 
and  from  behind  rocks  and  trees,  were  carefully 
singling  out  their  victims,  and  deliberately  shooting 


152       DEATH  OF  GENERAL  BRADDOCK. 

them  down,  "  producing  a  carnage  almost  unparal- 
leled in  the  history  of  modern  warfare."  Within 
three  hours  after  this  army  had  crossed  the  river, 
with  such  hopes  of  success,  more  than  half  of  them 
were  either  killed  or  wounded ;  among  the  latter 
was  General  Braddock  himself,  whose  wound  soon 
after  proved  mortal. 

"De  Haas,  in  his  History  of  Western  Virginia, 
maintains,  as  an  unquestionable  point  of  history, 
that  Braddock  was  shot  by  one  of  his  own  men,  by 
the  name  of  Tom  Fausett.  Braddock  had  issued  a 
foolish  yet  positive  order  that  none  of  the  troops 
should  protect  themselves  behind  trees.  Regard- 
less of  this,  Joseph  Fausett,  a  brother  of  Tom,  had 
so  posted  himself,  which  Braddock  perceiving, 
rode  up,  and  struck  him  down  with  his  sword. 
Tom  saw  his  brother  fall,  and  immediately  drew  up 
his  rifle,  and  shot  Braddock  in  the  back.  The  ball 
was  stopped  in  its  passage  through  the  body  by  a 
coat  of  mail  in  front.  Tom  Fausett  is  said  to  have 
died  in  1828,  at  the  great  age  of  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  years.  The  sash  of  General  Braddock  (in 
which  he  was  borne  from  the  field)  was  presented 
in  1846  by  a  gentleman  of  New  Orleans,  into  whose 
possession  it  had  come,  to  General  Taylor.  It  was 
composed  of  red  silk,  and  the  date  of  its  manufac- 
ture was  interwoven — '  1707.'  The  blood  of  Gene- 


WASHINGTON'S   EXPOSURE.  153 

ral  Braddock  had  left  marks  upon  it  of  deep  dis- 
coloration." * 

It  was  a  remarkable  circumstance,  and  beauti- 
fully illustrative  of  a  superintending  Providence, 
that  Colonel  Washington,  though  he  had  not 
recovered  from  his  illness,  was  constantly  moving 
about  the  theater  of  action,  exposing  himself  to  the 
thickest  of  the  fire,  and  exhibiting,  on  all  occasions, 
the  most  admirable  courage.  Being  aide-de-camp 
to  the  general,  it  was  his  duty  to  carry  his  orders 
to  the  subordinate  officers  in  all  parts  of  the  field. 
This  made  him  a  conspicuous  mark  to  the  enemy, 
who  did  not  fail  to  take  advantage  of  it.  In  a 
letter  to  his  brother  he  says  :  "  By  the  all-powerful 
dispensations  of  Providence,  I  have  been  protected 
beyond  all  human  probability  or  expectation  ;  for  I 
had  four  bullets  through  my  coat,  and  two  horses 
shot  under  me,-  yet  I  escaped  unhurt,  although 
death  was  leveling  my  companions  on  every  side  of 
me."  The  work  of  Washington  was  not  done.  He 
was  there  receiving  experience  and  a  training  to  fit 
him  for  greater  achievements,  and  a  more  glorious 
career  at  a  future  period.  The  severity  of  the 
engagement  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  out 
of  eighty-six  officers,  twenty-six  were  killed,  and 
thirty-seven  were  wounded,  while  the  killed  and 
wounded  of  the  soldiers  amounted  to  seven  hundred 
*  Goodrich's  History  of  the  United  States. 


154  WASHINGTON   AND   AN   INDIAN". 

and  fourteen.  Both  of  the  other  aides-de-camp  of 
Braddock  were  wounded;  and  it  seems  almost 
miraculous  that  Washington  escaped.  About  fifteen 
years  after  this  battle,  Washington,  in  company 
with  an  intimate  friend,  traveled  to  the  West. 
While  in  the  vicinity  of  the  junction  of  the  Great 
Kenawha  and  Ohio  rivers,  they  were  visited  by  a 
tribe  of  Indians,  over  whom  presided  a  venerable 
chief.  This  aged  chief  told  them  that  having  been 
informed  of  the  approach  of  Colonel  Washington 
to  that  part  of  the  country,  he  had  come  a  long 
journey  on  purpose  to  see  him,  and  then  assigned 
as  a  reason  that,  during  this  very  battle  of  which 
we  have  given  an  account,  "  he  had  singled  out 
Washington  as  a  conspicuous  object,  fired  his  rifle 
at  him  many  times,  and  directed  his  young  warriors 
to  do  the  same,  but  to  his  utter  astonishment,  none 
of  their  balls  took  effect.  He  was  then  persuaded 
that  the  youthful  hero  was  under  the  special  guard- 
ianship of  the  Great  Spirit,  and  immediately  ceased 
to  fire  at  him.  He  was  now  come  to  pay  homage 
to  the  man  who  was  the  particular  favorite  of 
Heaven,  and  who  could  never  die  in  battle." 


CHAPTER    III. 


Bavages  offer  their  Services— The  Offer  unwisely  Eejected— Washington's 
Fame — Davies'  Allusion  to  him  Prophetic  —  Thirst  for  Blood  —  The 
Moravians  attacked— Dreadful  State  of  Things— A  marvelous  Escape- 
Scalp  taken  from  a  living  Head— Great  Panic— Eeward  of  Ten  Pounds 
for  an  Indian's  Scalp. 


THE  question  naturally  arises,  how  happened  it 
that  the  army  of  General  Braddock  was  allowed  to 
be  led  into  an  ambush,  when  it  was  well  known  that 
that  was  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare,  against  which 
he  ought  to  have  been  particularly  on  his  guard  ? 
The  true  answer  to  this  question  develops  an  un- 
desirable trait  of  character  in  the  commander. 

While  the  army  were  on  their  march  to  Fort  Du- 
Quesne,  a  body  of  Indians  made  their  appearance, 
and  offered  to  take  sides  with  the  English  in  the 
approaching  conflict.  Washington,  who  well  knew 
that  under  certain  circumstances  they  would  be 
able  to  render  important  services  in  the  battle, 
earnestly  urged  General  Braddock  to  accept  of  their 
offer.  The  General  did  so,  but  it  was  with  such 
cold  indifference,  as  to  make  a  decidedly  unfavor- 
able impression  upon  these  wild  volunteers.  This 


156        BRADDOCK'S  UNFORTUNATE  DECISION. 

impression  was  deepened  to  so  great  a  degree  by 
the  subsequent  neglect  which  the  Indians  experi- 
enced from  their  new  friends,  that  they  soon  all 
withdrew.  They  did  not,  however,  go  far,  for  on 
the  evening  before  the  battle  they  showed  them- 
selves again,  and  a  second  time  offered  their  serv- 
ices. Washington  again  endeavored  to  influence 
his  commanding  officer  to  receive  them.  He  told 
him  of  the  character  of  Indians,  their  practice  of 
laying  in  ambush,  and  of  fighting  from  behind  trees, 
and  dwelt  on  the  importance  of  employing  these 
volunteers  as  scouts  to  go  ahead  and  reconnoiter 
the  woods  and  ravines,  and  in  this  manner  discover 
any  ambuscade  that  might  be  in  waiting  for  them. 
But  Braddock,  flushed  with  confidence  in  the  cour- 
age of  his  own  troops,  and  disdaining  the  assistance 
of  these  half-naked  and  ignorant  savages,  in  a  de- 
cided manner  sternly  refused  to  accept  of  their 
offer.  This  unfortunate  decision  sealed  the  fate  of 
the  following  day.  For  if  Washington's  advice  had 
been  followed,  and  these  Indians,  or  a  portion  of 
them,  had  been  employed  as  scouts  to  examine  the 
ground  in  front  of  the  advancing  army,  they  would 
have  discovered  the  ambush,  and,  by  preventing 
the  surprise,  would,  it  is  highly  probable,  have  se- 
cured the  victory  to  the  English.  But  through  the 
foolish  and  haughty  arrogance  of  Braddock,  they 
were  repulsed,  and  the  consequence  was  a  most 


WASHINGTON'S  FAME.  157 

bloody  and  disgraceful  defeat.  This,  however,  re- 
sulted in  no  loss  of  fame  to  Washington.  His  fear- 
lessness, decision,  and  tact,  in  the  trying  emergency 
of  the  battle,  were  witnessed  by  his  brother  officers 
and  soldiers,  who  commended  him  in  the  strongest 
terms.  He  gathered  laurels  from  the  same  field 
where  his  commander  received  only  dishonor  and 
death.  So  surprising  was  his  escape  from  the  many 
perils  to  which,  in  that  trying  conflict,  he  was  ex- 
posed, that  it  was  deemed  worthy  of  special  allu- 
sion in  a  sermon  preached  by  Rev.  Samuel  Davies, 
not  long  after,  who  used  the  following  language, 
which,  to  say  the  least,  approximates  to  the  pro- 
phetic. After  an  appropriate  commendation  of  the 
soldier-like  qualities  which  were  exhibited  on  that 
memorable  occasion  by  the  Virginia  troops,  he 
added,  "  As  a  remarkable  instance  of  this,  I  may 
point  out  to  the  public  that  heroic  youth,  Colonel 
Washington,  whom  I  can  not  but  hope  Providence 
has  hitherto  preserved,  in  so  signal  a  manner,  for 
some  important  service  to  his  country."  *  How 
well  this  prediction  was  verified,  the  subsequent  his- 
tory of  Washington  has  shown. 

In  this  engagement  the  number  of  the  enemy  was 
nearly  nine  hundred,  two  thirds  of  whom  were 
Indians.  Fortunately  for  the  English,  so  eager 
were  tho  victorious  army  to  secure  the  rich  spoilg 

*  Sparks's  Life  of  Washington. 
14 


158  INDIAN   COLDNESS. 

of  the  conquered,  and  the  scalps  of  their  dead,  that, 
instead  of  pursuing  the  English,  and  cutting  them 
down  on  their  retreat,  as  they  might  have  done 
with  dreadful  effect,  they  lingered  upon  the  field  of 
carnage,  to  gather  whatever  their  cupidity  or  re- 
venge desired.  Still,  so  great  was  the  panic  which 
had  seized  the  English,  that  they  seemed  to  have 
retreated  with  as  much  dismay  as  though  the  In- 
dians were  howling  in  close  pursuit.  At  the  order 
of  Colonel  D  unbar,  the  baggage  and  stores  were 
destroyed,  and  the  wagons  in  which  they  were  car- 
ried were  used  to  convey  the  wounded.  He  re- 
treated to  Fort  Cumberland,  and,  before  long, 
marched  to  Philadelphia.  So  unpropitious  did  the 
prospects  of  the  war  seem  that,  though  it  was  then 
midsummer,  he  went  into  winter  quarters,  and,  by 
so  doing,  left  all  the  frontier  settlements  exposed 
to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  enraged  and  pitiless 
savages. 

As  might  have  been  expected,  scenes  of  terrible 
barbarity  were  soon  witnessed. 

The  Indians,  whatever  may  have  been  their 
motives,  manifested  a  coldness  toward  that  party 
who  were  defeated,  though  they  had  previously 
been  on  friendly  terms  with  them.  The  Shawanese 
and  the  Delawares  were  in  alliance  with  the  English. 
They  had  not  only  been  faithful  to  their  white 
friends,  but  had  frequently  expressed  a  desire  to  be 


fiEWARD    GIVEN   FOR   INDIAN    HEADS.  159 

eent  by  the  English  for  hostile  purposes  against  the 
French.  Such  was  their  love  for  the  excitements 
and  horrors  of  battle  that  they  declared  if  they 
were  not  employed  by  the  English  they  would  take 
sides  against  them.  This  thirst  for  blood  had  been 
steadily  resisted.  But  now  that  the  English  forces 
under  Braddock  had  been  defeated,  and  a  wide  fiel^l 
for  the  gratification  of  their  savage  propensities 
was  furnished  by  the  French,  they  abandoned  the 
English  and  went  over  to  the  former.*  While 
they  were  in  sympathy  with  the  English,  they  had 
been  treated  with  great  kindness  and  had  conferred 
upon  them  a  great  number  of  presents  adapted  to 
their  tastes  and  wants.  When,  therefore,  they  de- 
serted them  and  united  with  their  enemies,  the 
indignation  of  the  colonists  was  greatly  excited  at 
the  perfidy  they  thus  exhibited;  and  under  the 
influence  of  this  feeling,  the  citizens  of  the  province 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  had  conferred  these  favors 
upon  them,  offered,  with  the  consent  of  the  gov- 
ernor, a  reward  of  seven  hundred  dollars  for  their 
heads. 

The  defection  of  these  Indians  was  soon  followed 
by  the  most  dreadful  barbarities.  It  is  extremely 
difficult  for  us,  surrounded  as  we  are  with  all  the 
indications  of  peace,  contentment  and  prosperity, 
to  realize  the  deep  and  wide-spread  agitation  occa- 
*  Gordon's  History  of  New  Jersey. 


160  DREADFUL   STATE    OF   THINGS. 

sioned  by  the  horrors  of  those  times.  Even  tho 
peace-loving  Moravians,  who  had  ever  treated  the 
aborigines  with  uniform  kindness,  were  ruthlessly 
attacked  by  them,  and  some  of  their  number  cruelly 
murdered.  The  state  of  things  among  the  English 
may  be  inferred  from  the  following  extracts  of 
letters  which  were  written  about  that  time.  One 
sent  from  the  Union  Iron  Works,  in  New  Jersey, 
December  20th,  1755,  says:  "The  barbarous  and 
bloody  scene  which  is  now  open  in  the  upper  parts 
of  Northampton  County,  is  the  most  lamentable 
that  has,  perhaps,  ever  appeared.  There  may  be 
seen  horror  and  desolation — populous  settlements 
deserted — villages  laid  in  ashes — men,  women,  and 
children  cruelly  mangled  and  massacred — some 
found  in  the  woods,  very  nauseous  for  want  of 
interment — some  just  reeking  from  the  hands  of 
their  savage  slaughterers — and  some  hacked  and 
covered  all  over  with  wounds."  This  letter,  as  a 
confirmation  of  its  statements,  gave  a  catal  )gue  of 
seventy-eight  persons  who  had  been  slain,  and  of 
over  forty  settlements  which  had  been  burned. 

Another  letter  from  Easton,  written  five  days 
later  than  the  one  above,  contains  the  following : 

The  country  all  above  this  town,  for  fifty  miles, 
is  mostly  evacuated  and  ruined.  The  people  have 
chiefly  fled  into  the  Jerseys.  Many  of  them  have 
thrashed  out  their  corn  and  carried  it  off,  with  their 


INDIAN   ATROCITIES.  161 

cattle  and  best  household  goods ;  but  a  vast  deal  is 
left  to  the  enemy.  Many  offered  half  their  personal 
effects  to  save  the  rest,  but  could  not  obtain  assist- 
ance enough  in  time  to  remove  them.  The  enemy 
made  but  few  prisoners ;  murdering  almost  all  that 
fell  into  their  hands,  of  all  ages  and  both  sexes. 
All  business  is  at  an  end,  and  the  few  remaining 
starving  inhabitants  in  this  town  are  quite  dejected 
and  dispirited." 

Thus  the  borders  of  Maryland,  as  well  as  those 
of  neighboring  states,  being  open  to  the  attacks  of 
the  Indians,  became  the  theater  where  were  acted, 
in  all  their  horrid  realities,  the  sickening  tragedies 
of  savage  war.  Even  before  the  disastrous  discom- 
fiture of  Braddock,  a  war-party  of  Indians  penetrat- 
ed the  settlements,  and  by  their  atrocities  filled  the 
hearts  of  the  people  with  terror.  The  house  of  Mr. 
Williams,  which  was  situated  in  Frederic  County, 
was  visited  by  them,  and,  true  to  their  nature,  they 
commenced  a  work  of  carnage  which  was  not  fin- 
ished until  twelve  persons  of  various  ages  were 
murdered  in  cold  blood.  After  Braddock's  defeat, 
a  company  of  settlers,  believing  themselves  to  be 
unsafe  in  their  own  dwellings,  attempted  to  escape 
to  Fort  Cumberland.  On  their  way  they  were  met 
by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  attacked  them  and  slew 
fifteen ;  the  original  number  being  eighteen,  three 

only  escaped.     Of  these,  one  was  a  boy,  who  had  an 
14* 


162  GREAT   PANIC. 

extremely  perilous  deliverance.  He  was  struck  by 
the  Indians  and  fell.  One  of  these  demons  incar- 
nafe  approached  him,  perhaps,  /Jie  very  one  who 
struck  him — and  finding  him  senseless — deliberately 
drew  his  knife,  cut  a  small  circle  round  the  top  of 
his  head,  tore  off  this  circular  piece  of  skin,  which 
is  called  the  scalp,  and  left  him  for  dead.  But  the 
boy  afterward  revived,  and  though  he  suffered 
much  pain,  he  succeeded  in  reaching  the  fort. 

So  great  was  the  panic  which  was  excited  through- 
out the  colony,  that  even  the  inhabitants  of  the  large 
towns  were  fearful  of  a  midnight  attack.  A  writer 
in  Green's  Gazette,  published  at  that  time,  says  that 
the  Indians  were  but  a  short  distance  from  Annapo- 
lis, and  "  that  so  entire  was  their  defenseless  situa- 
tion that  even  a  small  party  of  twenty  or  thirty  In- 
dians, by  marching  in  the  night  and  skulking  in  the 
day  time,  might  come  upon  them  unawares  in  the 
dead  of  night,  burn  their  houses,  and  cut  their 
throats,  before  they  could  put  themselves  in  a  post- 
ure of  defense."  This  writer,  perhaps,  took  counsel 
only  of  his  fears,  for  others  believed  that  "  there 
was  no  more  danger  of  Annapolis  being  attacked  by 
the  Indians  than  London."  The  apprehensions  of 
the  people  were  soon  allayed  by  the  return  of  sev- 
eral volunteers  from  the  West,  who  stated  that  they 
had  seen  no  Indians  on  the  way  except  one,  ara 
"  that  he  was '  very  quietj  for  they  found  him 


TEH    POUNDS    FOR   A    SCALP.  163 

The  state  of  the  colony  during  this  trying  year 
may  he  inferred  from  the  fact-  that  more  than  twen- 
ty of  the  least  protected  plantations  were  destroy- 
ed, and  the  families  of  the  planters  either  murdered 
by  the  blood-thirsty  enemy,  or  carried  away  into 
a  hopeless  captivity. 

In  order  to  put  the  country  in  a  proper  state  of 
defense,  by  the  erection  efforts  and  blockhouses  at 
the  most  exposed  points,  the  Legislature  of  Mary- 
land, on  the  22d  of  March  1756,  passed  a  bill,  in 
which  provision  was  made  for  raising  forty  thousand 
pounds  for  these  purposes,  and  also  to  provide  for  the 
enlistment  and  payment  of  troops.  It  was  directed 
that  ten  pounds  should  be  paid  to  any  individual 
who  would  produce  the  scalp  of  any  hostile  Indian  ; 
the  bloody  skin  being  regarded  as  evidence  that 
its  owner  had  been  recently  slain.  It  was  slow 
work,  however,  to  extirpate  the  Indians  in  this  man- 
ner. Small  parties  were  sent  out  from  the  colonies, 
who  would  occasionally  fall  in  with  a  band  of  ma- 
rauding Indians,  and  then  a  conflict  would  ensue  in 
which  some  on  both  sides  would  be  slain  or  wounded. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Design  of  the  French — Crown  Point — Johnson  and  the  Indian  Chiei 
Hendrick — Baron  Dieskau — Indian  Mode  of  Numbering — Indian  Battle 
— An  eloquent  Indian  Chief— Important  military  Principle — Effects  of 
Delay— Battle  of  Lake  George— Death  of  Baron  Dieskau— Ketreat  of 
;he  French — Effects  of  the  Victory — Johnson  highly  honored — His  self- 
ish Meanness — A  true  Principle. 

THE  persevering  design  of  the  French  to  obtain 
possession  of  large  portions  of  the  American  conti- 
nent, south  of  Canada,  notwithstanding  the  defeats 
with  which  their  armies  had  met,  was  further  evinced 
by  their  subsequent  military  operations.  In  1731 
they  erected  a  fort  at  Crown  Point,  on  the  south- 
western shore  of  Lake  Chainplain,  in  the  territory 
of  the  Indians  known  as  the  Six  Nations,  who  were 
the  allies  of,  and  under  the  protection  of  the  English. 
This  was  almost  equivalent  to  an  invasion  of  English 
soil.  It  attracted  but  little  attention,  and  excited 
so  alarm  among  the  English  at  the  time,  but  after- 
ward it  was  the  occasion  of  a  bloody  conflict. 

By  1755  so  serious  had  become  the  encroachment? 
of  the  French  that  vigorous  measures  were  neces- 
sary to  arrest  them.  Accordingly  between  five  and 
six  thousand  troops,  chiefly  from  New  England  and 


ANECDOTES    OP    HKJNDK1CK.  165 

New  York  assembled  at  Albany,  an  inconsiderable 
town  on  the  Hudson.  They  were  placed  under  the 
command  of  an  Irishman  of  the  name  of  William 
Johnson — a  man  distinguished  for  great  muscular 
power,  mental  energy,  and  a  bold,  enterprising  spirit. 
A  prominent  reason  why  he  was  appointed,  arose 
from  his  influence  with  the  Six  Nations,  whom,  it 
was  supposed,  he  would  induce  to  unite  in  the  expe- 
dition. In  accordance  with  this  expectation  he 
prevailed  upon  Hendrick,  one  of  their  leading  chiefs, 
to  accompany  them  with  three  hundred  of  the  wild 
warriors  of  his  tribe. 

Of  this  chief  the  following  anecdotes  are  related 
illustrative  of  his  character :  At  the  time  it  was  in 
contemplation  to  send  a  detachment  against  Dies- 
kau,  the  number  of  men  to  compose  the  detach- 
ment was  mentioned  to  Hendrick,  and  his  opinion 
was  asked  as  to  whether  there  were  enough.  He 
replied  with  Indian  brevity,  "If  they  are  to  fight 
they  are  too  few ;  if  they  are  to  be  killed  they  are 
too  many."  The  number  was  at  once  increased. 

Johnson  suggested  that  the  detachment  should 
be  divided  into  three  parties.  To  this  Hendrick 
was  averse,  and  to  express  in  an  impressive  manner 
his  opposition,  he  took  three  sticks,  and  putting  them 
together  said  to  him,  "  Put  these  together  and  you 
can  not  break  them ;  take  them  one  by  one  and  you 
will  break  them  easily."  The  hint  was  not  lost,  and 


166 


PREPARATIONS   FOR   WAR. 


"  Hendrick's  sticks  saved  many  of  the  party  and 
probably  the  whole  army  from  destruction." 

General  Lyman  was  the   second  in    command. 
While  Johnson  was  busily  engaged  in  collecting 


HENDRICK   AND   THE  STICKS. 


arms,  ammunition  and  military  stores  at  Albany, 
Lyman  with  the  troops  was  industriously  laboring 
to  erect  a  fort  at  what  was  termed  the  "  Carryin^ 
place,"  between  Hudson  river  and  Lake  George, 
about  sixty  miles  from  Albany.  It  received  the 
name  of  Fort  Edward.  Johnson,  after  finishing  hia 


JOHNSON'S   DECISION.  167 

collection  of  stores,  joined  his  army  and,  after  leav* 
ing  a  part  of  it  to  garrison  the  new  fort,  he  pushed 
on  to  meet  the  enemy.  It  was  his  intention  to  re- 
duce first  the  fortifications  of  Ticonderoga,  but  re- 
ceiving the  alarming  tidings  that  a  strong  body  of 
French  and  Indians  were  approaching  toward  him, 
under  the  command  of  the  able  and  experienced 
Baron  Dieskau,  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  this 
design,  and  place  himself  on  the  defensive.  Dies- 
kau, knowing  that  the  army  of  the  English  were  in- 
ferior to  his  own,  calculated  upon  an  easy  victory 
over  them,  and  then  he  intended  to  take  Albany 
and  lay  waste  the  various  neighboring  settlements 
of  the  English.  Unfortunately  for  Johnson  he  was 
unable  to  learn  the  probable  number  or  position  of 
the  enemy.  His  Indian  scouts,  from  whom  he  de- 
rived all  his  information,  were  unable  to  express 
with  decision  any  large  numbers.  When  asked  how 
many,  they  would  point  to  their  hair,  or  to  the 
stars,  to  signify  a  large  number,  but  whether  they 
meant  that  there  were  five  hundred  or  ten  thousand 
it  was  impossible  to  tell.  Johnson  was  not  to  be  in- 
timidated by  rumors  of  a  large  army  of  the  enemy 
of  uncertain  numbers.  Taking  counsel  from  his 
courage  rather  than  from  discretion,  he  detached  a 
thousand  of  his  brave  men,  under  the  command  of, 
Colonel  Ephraim  Williams,  together  with  two  hun- 
dred Indians  under  the  Mohawk  chief  Hendrick,  to 


168  THE   BATTLE. 

intercept  the  French,  and,  if  possible,  drive  them 
back.  This  detachment  marched  forward  upon  their 
perilous  enterprise  with  more  boldness  than  pru- 
dence. For  Dieskau  had  judiciously  placed  his  men 
hi  such  positions  that  they  formed  a  perfect  ambus- 
cade. He  had  arranged  the  French  and  Indians  on 
both  sides  of  the  road,  behind  rocks,  bushes,  trees 
and  whatever  else  would  afford  protection,  so  that 
they  were  effectually  concealed  from  the  enemy. 
The  English  army  steadily  advanced  until  they  were 
caught  in  the  ambush.  "  Whence  came  you  ?"  said 
an  Indian  on  the  French  side  to  Hendrick.  "  From 
the  Mohawks  "he  replied.  "  Whence  came  you?" 
"From  Montreal  "  was  the  answer.  The  battle  now 
began.  A  few  shots  fired  by  the  advanced  compa- 
nies indicated  to  the  whole  of  the  two  armies  that 
they  had  met  the  enemy.  The  conflict  soon  became 
general.  Reports  of  musketry  were  heard  from  be- 
hind every  rock  and  tree.  Warriors  on  both  sides 
fell  without  knowing  by  whom  they  were  wounded. 
Skill,  caution  and  bravery  were  displayed  by  both 
parties.  As  the  French  were  the  most  numerous, 
and  as  they  were  endeavoring  to  surround  the  Amer- 
icans, in  which,  if  they  had  succeeded,  they  would 
soon  have  slain  or  captured  the  whole  of  them,  it 
became  necessary  for  the  Americans  to  retreat. 
This  was  judiciously  and  successfully  accomplished, 
under  the  command  of  Nathan  Whiting.  There 


A   NOBLE   CHIEF.  169 

was  no  panic — no  rout  in  this  retreat.  So  far  from  it 
that  the  retreating  party  repeatedly  rallied,  turned 
and  fired  upon  their  pursuers.  The  loss  to  both 
armies  was  considerable.  On  the  American  side 
Colonel  Williams  and  the  chief  Hendrick  were  both 
slain.  Hendrick  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen.  "  He 
had  lived  to  this  day  with  singular  honor,  and  died 
fighting  with  a  spirit  not  to  be  excelled.  He  was 
at  this  time  from  sixty  to  sixty-five  years  of  age. 
His  head  was  covered  with  white  locks,  and,  what  is 
uncommon  among  Indians,  he  was  corpulent.  Im- 
mediately before  Colonel  Williams  began  his  march, 
he  mounted  a  stage  and  harangued  his  people.  He 
had  a  strong  masculine  voice,  and  it  was  thought, 
might  be  distinctly  heard  at  the  distance  of  half  a 
mile,  a  fact  which  has  diffused  a  new  degree  of  prob- 
ability over  Homer^s  representations  of  the  effects 
produced  by  the  speeches  and  shouts  of  his  heroes. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Pomroy,  who  was  present  and 
heard  this  effusion  of  Indian  eloquence,  said  that 
although  he  did  not  understand  a  word  of  the  lan- 
guage, yet  such  was  the  animation  of  Hendrick,  the 
fire  of  his  eye,  the  force  of  his  gesture,  the  strength 
of  his  emphasis,  the  apparent  propriety  of  the  in- 
flections  of  his  voice  and  the  natural  appearance  of 
his  whole  manner,  that  himself  was  more  deeply  af- 
fected with  this  speech  than  with  any  other  which 
he  had  ever  heard.  In  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette, 
15 


170  IMPORTANT   PRINCIPLE. 

September  25th,  1755,  he  is  styled  the  famous  Hen- 
drick,  a  renowned  Indian  warrior  among  the  Mo- 
hawks, and  it  is  said  that  his  son,  being  told  that 
his  father  was  killed,  giving  the  usual  Indian  groan 
upon  such  occasions,  and  suddenly  putting  his  hand 
on  his  left  breast,  swore  that  his  father  was  still 
alive  in  that  place,  and  that  here  stood  his  son."* 

On  the  part  of  the  French,  M.  St.  Pierre,  who 
had  all  the  Indians  under  his  command,  was  slain. 

Nothing  is  more  important  after  a  victory  than 
to  follow  up  a  retreating  army  with  vigor,  without 
giving  them  time  to  pause  and  intrench  themselves, 
or  prepare  for  another  engagement.  It  is  the 
general  testimony  of  historians  that  if  the  French 
commander,  Dieskau,  had  adopted  this  method, 
after  the  defeat  of  Colonel  Williams,  he  might  have 
destroyed,  or  hopelessly  scattered,  the  whole  of  the 
army  under  Johnson.  But  he  did  not.  He  paused 
sufficiently  long  for  the  confusion  of  the  retreat  to 
subside,  and  for  Johnson  to  prepare  to  meet  him. 
The  consequence  was,  that  when  the  French  made 
their  attack  upon  the  whole  force  under  Johnson 
(who  were  established  on  the  banks  of  the  beautiful 
Lake  George,  protected  by  some  camion,  which 
they  had  had  time  to  bring  up,  and  of  which  Dies- 
kau was  ignorant),  they  met  with  such  a  warm 
reception  as  soon  caused  them  to  repent  of  their 
*  Dwight's  Travels. 


THE   COURAGE    OF   DIESKAU.  171 

temerity.  Johnson  had  felled  some  trees,  with 
which  he  had  constructed  a  breast  work  for  a  por- 
tion of  his  men.  It  furnished,  however,  a  very  im- 
perfect protection.  The  French  advanced  along 
the  road  in  regular  order,  but  when  Johnson  poured 
into  them  the  unexpected  fire  of  his  cannon,  the 
Canadians  and  the  Indians  fled  and  betook  them- 
selves to  the  shelter  of  the  trees  and  the  rocks. 
Dieskau  was  surprised  and  indignant  at  their  con- 
duct. Still,  acting  upon  his  own  motto  "  Boldness 
wins,"  he  made  a  grand  central  attack  with  his 
regulars,  which  was  kept  up  with  courage  and 
spirit  several  hours.  But  they  could  not  stand 
before  the  artillery.  Johnson  was  wounded  soon 
after  the  battle  began,  and  was  obliged  to  be 
carried  to  his  tent,  leaving  the  command  to  Gene- 
ral Lyman,  who  conducted  the  defense  with  great 
boldness  and  vigor,  and  eventually  succeeded  in 
repulsing  the  French  with  great  loss.  Nearly  all 
the  French  regulars  fell  before  the  well-directed 
fire  of  the  English.  The  brave  Dieskau  was  wound- 
ed three  times,  but  refused  to  leave  the  field. 
When  two  Canadians  approached  to  perform  the 
humane  office  of  bearing  him  to  his  tent,  one  of 
them  fell  dead  by  his  side,  pierced  by  a  ball,  the 
other  he  sent  away.  He  then  had  his  military  dresa 
placed  near  him,  and  seated  himself  on  an  old 
stump,  where  he  could  hear  soldier's  music — the 


172  EFFECT    OF   THE   VICTOEY. 

whistling  and  rattling  of  balls  as  they  flew  beside 
him.  Here  he  was  found.  "  While  feeling  for  his 
watch  to  surrender  it,  one  of  the  soldiers  suspecting 
him  to  be  in  search  for  a  pistol,  poured  a  charge 
through  his  hips,  and  he  was  conducted  a  prisoner 
to  the  English  camp."  He  was  afterward  carried 
to  England,  where  he  died  of  his  wounds.  The 
retreat  of  the  French  was  very  disorderly.  There 
fell  in  the  engagement  about  two  hundred  and 
twenty  slain,  and  about  one  hundred  wounded.  As 
the  French  were  not  immediately  followed  in  their 
retreat,  they  paused  about  four  miles  from  the 
camp.  Here,  while  they  were  preparing  to  refresh 
their  exhausted  nature  with  a  meal,  they  were 
suddenly  attacked  by  some  two  hundred  men  of 
New  Hampshire,  under  Captain  McGinness,  and  so 
completely  put  to  flight  that  they  left  the  whole  of 
their  baggage  and  ammunition  a  prize  to  their 
victors.  In  this  action  the  brave  McGinness  fell, 
mortally  wounded.  This  victory  at  Lake  George 
was  of  great  importance  to  the  English.  The  defeat 
of  Braddock  had  filled  the  colonies  with  sadness 
and  despondency.  Some  successful  engagement 
was  necessary  to  restore  them  to  their  accustomed 
buoyancy  and  confidence.  When,  therefore,  the 
intelligence  of  this  defeat  of  the  French,  was  dif- 
fused among  them,  it  was  like  the  lifting  of  a  dark 
cloud.  Fearfulness  was  banished,  and  joy  and  hope 
once  more  restored. 


JOHNSON'S   MEANNESS.  173 

When  the  account  of  the  victory  reached  England, 
the  House  of  Lords  regarded  it  of  such  consequence 
that,  in  a  beautiful  address,  they  passed  honorable 
encomiums  upon  the  little  army  as  "  brave  and  faith- 
ful." Johnson  was  honored  with  the  dignity  of  a 
baronet,  with  a  grant  from  Parliament  of  five  thou- 
sand pounds,  and  in  addition  thereto,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs.  As 
Johnson  was  wounded,  and  obliged  to  retire  from 
the  field,  in  the  early  part  of  the  engagement,  leav- 
ing the  responsibility  of  conducting  the  battle  with 
General  Lyman,  by  whom  it  was  led  to  a  successful 
issue,  it  seems  remarkable  that  such  great  distinc- 
tion and  emoluments  should  have  been  conferred 
upon  Johnson,  to  the  neglect  of  the  other  officers. 
The  reason  of  this,  may,  perhaps,  be  found  in  the 
fact,  that  in  Johnson's  dispatches  to  the  English 
government,  giving  an  account  of  the  victory,  he 
"  assumed  the  whole  merit  of  it  to  himself,"  and 
thereby  robbed  the  other  officers  of  their  proper 
share.  The  consequence  was  that  their  claims 
received  no  attention  in  England.  The  meanness 
of  such  conduct  on  the  part  of  Johnson,  was  una- 
toned  for  by  all  the  bravery  and  energy  he  pos- 
sessed. The  true  principle  which  should  be  recog- 
nized by  all  commanding  officers  in  their  dispatches, 
giving  an  account  of  military  engagements,  is  that 
of  rendering  u  honor  to  whom  honor  is  due." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

W&rquis  de  Montcalm— Forts  at  Oswego— Violent  Midnight  Attack—Fort 
Ontario  taken— Colonel  Mercer  killed— No  Aid  to  be  obtained— The 
English  capitulate  to  the  French — Terms  of  Capitulation — Are  shame- 
fully violated — Montcalm  destroys  the  Forts — Lord  London's  Expedi- 
tion— Montcalm's  Barbarity — Munro's  sad  Discovery — The  English 
yield  to  Montcalm — Terms  of  Submission — Willful  Deception— Indigna- 
tion of  the  Savages— Their  horrid  Cruelties— Effects  of  the  Full  of  Fort 
William  Henry— The  Massacre  attributed  to  Liquor. 

AFTER  Baron  Dieskau  had  received  his  mortal 
wound,  he  was  succeeded  in  the  command  of  the 
French  forces,  by  the  Marquis  de  Montcalm.  This 
brave  and  energetic  officer  marched  against  Os- 
wego,  a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oswego  River,  on 
the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Ontario.  This  fort  con- 
tained fourteen  hundred  English  soldiers,  and  a 
large  quantity  of  military  stores.  It  was  strong, 
being  built  of  stone,  surrounded  by  a  wall  with  four 
bastions,  and  was  protected  by  another  fort,  called 
Fort  Ontario,  situated  upon  a  commanding  eminence 
on  the  opposite -side  of  the  river.  Montcalm,  with 
an  army  of  five  thousand  French  and  Indians,  came 
suddenly  upon  Oswego.  He  first  invested  Fort 
Ontario,  and  at  midnight  of  August  12,  1756,  he 
poured  a  destructive  fire  upon  it,  from  thirty-two 


TEEMS  DISGRACEFULLY  VIOLATED.      175 

cannon,  and  several  mortars  and  howitzers.  The 
garrison  in  the  little  fort  replied  with  becoming 
spirit.  But  unfortunately  for  them  their  stock  of 
ammunition  was  very  limited  and  soon  exhausted. 
When  this  was  discovered,  the  commander,  Colonel 
Mercer,  spiked  his  cannon,  and  fled  with  his  men  to 
Fort  Oswego,  which  he  succeeded  in  reaching  with- 
out the  loss  of  a  single  man.  The  French  then  took 
possession  of  the  deserted  fort,  from  which  they 
opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  the  other.  Colonel  Mer- 
cer was  soon  killed,  and  a  breach  made  in  the  walls 
of  the  fort.  Upon  the  loss  of  their  commander,  the 
English  became  disheartened,  and  were  unwilling 
to  continue  the  contest.  An  effort  to  obtain  aid 
from  Fort  George,  four  miles  up  the  river,  having 
failed,  they  capitulated,  and  surrendered  themselves 
prisoners  of  war.  It  was  stipulated  that  the  prison- 
ers should  receive  no  cruelty  from  their  conquerors, 
that  they  should  be  protected  from  plunder,  and 
should  be  taken  to  Montreal.  These  conditions 
were  most  dishonorably  violated. 

"It  was  the  duty  of  Montcalm  to  guard  his  en- 
gagements from  the  danger  of  infringement  by  his 
savage  allies;  and  yet  he  instantly  delivered  up 
twenty  of  his  prisoners  to  the  Indians  who  accom- 
panied him,  as  victims  to  their  vengeance,  for  an 
equal  number  of  their  owrn  race  who  perished  in  the 
eiege.  Nor  was  the  remainder  of  the  captive  gar- 


176  EXPEDITIONS   ABANDONED. 

rison  protected  from  the  cruelty  and  indignity  with 
which  these  savages  customarily  embittered  the  fate 
of  the  vanquished.  Almost  all  of  them  were  plun- 
dered, many  were  scalped,  and  some  were  assassin- 
ated. 

"  In  the  foils  the  victors  obtained  possession  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty-one  pieces  of  artillery, 
fourteen  mortars,  and  a  great  quantity  of  military 
stores  and  provisions.  A  number  of  sloops  and 
boats  at  the  same  time  fell  into  their  hands."  * 

After  Montcalm  had  obtained  possession  of  the 
two  forts,  instead  of  putting  them  in  repair  and 
leaving  a  garrison  for  their  protection,  he  leveled 
them  both  to  the  ground.  This  he  did  in  order  to 
secure  the  confidence  and  permanent  co-operation 
of  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  who  were  dis- 
pleased that  they  had  been  erected  upon  their  ter- 
ritory. 

These  disastrous  events  filled  the  English  colonies 
with  discouragement  and  gloom.  Several  expedi- 
tions against  different  points  of  the  enemy's  terri- 
tories, which  had  been  planned,  were  abandoned 
or  postponed.  Fort  Edward  and  Fort  Henry,  how- 
ever, were  placed  in  a  state  of  defense.  But  the 
next  year,  1757,  Montcalm,  who  had  derived  en- 
encouragement  from  the  supineness  of  the  English, 
under  the  newly-appointed  and  inefficient  gov- 
*  Grahame's  History. 


MONTCALM'S  BARBARITY.  177 

ernor,  Lord  London,  marched  with  nine  thousand 
men  against  Fort  Henry.  The  garrison  of  the  fort 
consisted  of  three  thousand  English  and  American 
troops,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Monroe.  As 
Fort  Edward  was  only  fourteen  miles  distant,  with 
four  thousand  troops  under  General  Webb,  it  had 
been  reasonably  supposed  that  it  would  render  as- 
sistance in  case  of  an  attack  upon  Fort  Henry. 
This,  however,  was  not  done.  Montcalm  pressed 
the  siege  of  the  fort  with  great  spirit.  He  had 
promised  the  Indians  who  composed  a  portion  of 
his  army  that,  in  case  he  captured  the  fort,  they 
should  have  abundant  opportunity  of  gratifying 
their  barbarous  spirit,  by  practicing  their  refined 
cruelties  upon  as  many  of  the  English  prisoners  as 
would  equal  the  Indians  slain  in  the  battle.  They 
should  also  have  the  privilege  of  plundering  their 
enemy  to  their  heart's  content.  Motives  like  these 
were  admirably  adapted  to  excite  all  the  ferocity 
of  the  savage  allies,  and  prompt  them  to  fight  like 
so  many  demons.  He  also  succeeded  in  stirring  up 
a  high  degree  of  warlike  enthusiasm  in  the  breast 
of  the  volatile  French  soldiers. 

The  siege  was  continued  with  vigor  for  six  days. 
Thousands  of  well-directed  shots  were  exchanged 
by  the  two  armies,  when  Munroe  made  the  sad  dis- 
covery that  his  ammunition  was  failing.  As  all 
hopes  of  assistance  from  Fort  Edward,  and  from  all 
8* 


178  INDIAN   BARBARITIES. 

other  external  sources,  were  blasted,  he  was  com- 
pelled, reluctantly,  to  capitulate.  The  terms  of 
capitulation  were,  under  the  circumstances,  highly 
honorable.  The  conquered  garrison  agreed  not  to 
take  up  arms  against  the  French  for  eighteen 
months,  while  the  victorious  Montcalm  stipulated, 
that  they  should  march  out  of  the  fort  with  the 
honors  of  war,  retain  their  personal  baggage,  and 
be  protected  from  the  incensed  cruelty  of  the  feroc- 
ious savages,  by  a  guard  of  French  soldiers,  who 
should  escort  them  to  Fort  Edward.  If  these  con- 
ditions had  been  faithfully  executed,  it  would  have 
saved  the  English  from  suffering  most  atrocious 
cruelty,  and  would  have  protected  the  honor  of  the 
French  from  a  foul  blot,  which  now  rests  upon 
them.  As  it  was,  the  English  were  woefully  de- 
ceived. For  when  the  Indian  allies  of  Montcalm 
learned  what  favorable  conditions  had  been  granted 
to  the  English,  they  were  indignant,  and  determin- 
ed not  to  abide  by  them.  Hence,  so  soon  as  the 
conquered  soldiers  marched  out  of  the  fort,  and 
yielded  up  their  weapons,  the  Indians  pounced 
upon  them  with  ruthless  barbarity,  and  with  their 
accustomed  fiend-like  malice,  tore  from  them  their 
clothing ;  robbed  them  of  their  baggage,  and  slew, 
or  made  prisoners,  all  who  opposed  them.  About 
one  thousand  and  five  hundred  English  soldiers 
were,  in  this  defenseless  manner,  slain,  or  subjected 


EFFECT    OF   LTQUOK,  179 

to  the  barbarities  of  an  Indian  captivity.  The  Indi 
ans  who  had  fought  on  the  side  of  the  English  were 
treated  in  a  still  more  ferocious  manner.  They 
were  seized  and  subjected  to  the  refined  cruelty  of 
Indian  torture.  Of  the  whole  garrison  of  Fort 
William  Henry  hardly  one  half  succeeded  in  reach- 
ing Fort  Edward,  and  they  were  reduced  to  a 
most  pitiable  condition. 

The  fall  of  Fort  William  Henry  filled  the  English 
colonies  with  painful  surprise,  and  the  disgraceful 
violation  of  the  treaty  of  capitulation  by  Montcalm'a 
Indians  kindled  within  them  burning  indignation. 

For  this  massacre,  Montcalm  must  not  be  cen- 
sured too  severely.  He  and  his  officers  exerted 
themselves  to  prevent  it.  It  was,  in  part,  the  effect 
of  rum.  Montcalm  had  kept  spirituous  liquors  from 
the  Indians,  but  after  the  capitulation  of  the  garri- 
son they  obtained  it  from  the  English,  and  under 
its  maddening  effects  they  rushed  upon  the  prison- 
ers and  committed  the  barbarities  we  have  de- 
scribed. This,  however,  does  not  excuse  Montcalm 
for  holding  out  to  the  Indians  motives  of  revenge 
and  plunder,  in  order  to  excite  them  the  morf 
intensely  against  the  English. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

Pitt  favors  Liberty— Three  important  Expeditions— Attack  upon  Louis- 
burg— Landing  in  a  Storm— Brave  Attack  and  Defense— American 
Gibraltar — Bombardment — The  City  taken — Great  Joy  in  England- 
Soldier's  Wit— Disappointment  in  France— French  Commander  degrad- 
ed—Montcalm  at  Ticonderoga— His  Intrenchments— Abercrombie  on 
Lake  George— A  Battle  in  the  Woods— Lord  Howe  slain— Assault  of 
Ticonderoga— The  Kepulse— English  want  Cannon— Disheartening 
Effects. 

WHEN  intelligence  of  the  capture  of  the  forts  in 
America,  and  the  further  encroachments  of  the 
French  were  known  in  England,  the  government 
saw  the  necessity  of  sending  over  more  efficient  aid 
to  their  feeble  colonies.  Pitt  was  called  to  the  head 
of  affairs,  as  the  chief  minister  of  the  government. 
He  was  a  man  of  enlarged  views,  powerful  oratory, 
and  great  executive  talents.  He  was  a  friend  to 
liberty,  and  strongly  opposed  to  all  tyrannical  or 
unjust  legislation  toward  the  colonies.  Being  con- 
vinced of  the  inefficiency  of  Lord  London's  adminis- 
tration of  affairs  in  America,  he  had  him  recalled. 
He  also  wrote  letters  to  the  colonies  encouraging 
them  to  raise  soldiers,  and  provide,  to  the  extent 
of  their  ability,  the  munitions  of  war.  He  also 
stimulated  the  government  to  aid  the  colonies  by 


ATTACK   UPON   LOUISBUK^  181 

sending  out  large  numbers  of  troops,  in  connection 
with  a  fleet  of  vessels  of  war. 

During  the  year  1758  three  different  expeditions 
were  undertaken  by  the  English.  The  object  of 
these  expeditions  was  the  conquest  of  Canada.  The 
first  was  an  attack  upon  Louisburg,  a  town  situated 
on  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  island  of  Cape  Bre- 
ton, and  garrisoned  by  thirty-one  hundred  soldiers, 
of  whom  two  thousand  five  hundred  were  regulars, 
the  rest  being  militia.  The  harbor  was  protected  by 
one  fifty-gun  ship,  five  ships  of  the  line,  and  five 
frigates — three  being  sunk  across  the  mouth.  On 
the  2d  of  June  the  English  fleet  and  army,  consist- 
ing of  twenty  ships  of  the  line,  fifteen  frigates,  and 
ten  thousand  soldiers,  arrived  before  the  town.  So 
violent  were  the  waves,  and  so  well  protected  was 
the  harbor,  that  the  attempt  to  land  was  deemed 
too  dangerous  to  be  undertaken. 

But  on  the  8th  of  the  month  this  important  ope- 
ration commenced.  The  first  division  that  landed 
was  under  the  command  of  General  Wolfe.  The 
boats  were  well  filled,  and  notwithstanding  the  surf, 
which  continued  to  roll  with  much  violence,  they 
advanced  toward  the  land.  But  they  met  with  ob- 
structions more  difficult  than  the  waves.  These 
consisted  of  a  tempestuous  storm  of  bullets,  poured 
upon  them  by  the  French  from  behind  their  batteries 

and  breastworks,  which  had  been  thrown  up  along 
16 


182 


BKAVE   ATTACK   AND   DEFENSE. 


the  shore  to  prevent  the  landing  of  the  invaders. 
Wolfe  would  not  allow  a  gun  to  be  fired  in  return. 
Bat  he  kept  up  the  spirits  of  the  men  by  cheering 
them  onward.  When  they  arrived  near  the  land 
they  leaped  in  the  rolling  surf,  and  in  spite  of  a  spir- 


LANDINOJ  AT  LOUISBURQ. 

ited  tire  kept  up  by  the  enemy,  they  waded  through 
the  water,  reached  the  shore,  attacked  the  batteries 
which  had  been  making  the  waters  of  the  ocean 
crimson  with  the  blood  of  the  English,  furiously  as- 
sailed those  who  served  the  guns,  slew  them  at 
their  postsy  or  else  drove  them  from  their  positions, 


AMERICAN   GIBRALTAR.  183 

and  in  a  few  hours  successfully  invested  the  town. 
In  this  movement,  which  was  conducted  with  skill 
and  energy,  several  of  the  boats  of  the  English,  filled 
with  soldiers,  were  dashed  to  pieces  by  the  violence 
of  the  waves,  and  many  others  were  upset,  throw- 
ing their  passengers  into  the  turbulent  deep. 

After  the  English  troops  were  landed,  it  became 
desirable  to  seize  a  post  in  the  possession  of  the  ene- 
my, called  Light  House  Point,  from  which  by  a  well- 
directed  battery  the  English  might  greatly  annoy 
the  French  ships  in  the  harbor,  and  do  effective 
execution  upon  the  fortifications  of  the  town.  Gen- 
eral Wolfe  was  accordingly  sent  with  a  detachment 
of  two  thousand  men  to  take  this  point.  This  was 
no  difficult  task,  for  when  the  enemy  saw  him  ap- 
proaching, they  abandoned  the  position  and  fled. 
The  siege  of  the  town  was  now  pressed  with  cau- 
tion, yet  with  great  resolution.  The  fleet  was  un- 
der the  command  of  Admiral  Boscawen,  and  the 
soldiers  under  Amherst,  to  whom  Wolfe  was  a  sub- 
ordinate. The  garrison  of  Louisburg  was  command- 
ed by  Chevalier  de  Drucourt.  So  strong  were  the 
fortifications  of  this  place,  and  of  such  importance 
was  its  possession  supposed  to  be,  that  it  was  called 
the  American  Gibraltar.  But  it  could  not  stand 
before  the  resistless  energy  of  the  English.  A  well- 
directed  bomb  set  fire  to  one  of  the  largest  French 
ships,  which  soon  blew  up,  scattering  its  burning 


184  STJRREiSDER    OF   THE   GARRISON. 

fragments  in  every  direction.  This  set  fire  to  two 
others,  which  were  also  consumed.  The  admiral 
now  sent  off  boats  with  six  hundred  men  to  destroy, 
or  take  possession  of  two  ships  of  the  line.  Under 
the  cover  of  night  they  engaged  in  this  perilous  en- 
terprise. One  of  the  ships  was  aground.  This  they 
set  on  fire,  and  notwithstanding  a  violent  shower 
of  musket  and  cannon-balls,  which  were  pouring 
upon  them,  they  succeeded  in  triumphantly  towing 
the  other  away.  The  English  admiral  now  had 
command  of  the  harbor.  Breaches  had  also  been 
made  in  the  fortifications  that  protected  the  town. 
The  firing  was  kept  up  with  vigor.  The  town  was 
reduced  nearly  to  ruins. 

By  the  25th  of  July  it  was  apparent  to  the 
French  commander  that  it  was  useless  to  hold  out 
any  longer.  The  fleet  was  destroyed,  and  the 
enemy  controlled  the  harbor.  Of  fifty-two  cannon, 
forty  had  been  rendered  useless.  Longer  oppo- 
sition would  only  lead  to  unnecessary  slaughter. 
The  Chevalier  de  Drucourt  proposed  to  capitulate. 
The  terms  he  offered  were  rejected  by  the  English, 
who  demanded  that  the  garrison  should  yield  as 
prisoners  of  war,  or,  in  case  of  refusal,  be  simultane- 
ously assaulted  by  sea  and  land.  These  conditions 
were  so  humiliating  that  the  spirit  of  the  French 
commander  revolted  at  them,  but  there  being  no 
other  alternative,  he  was  compelled  to  yield.  By 


JOY   IN   ENGLAND.  185 

this  important  victory  there  came  into  the  hands 
of  the  English  two  hundred  and  twenty-one  pieces 
of  cannon,  eighteen  mortars  for  the  throwing  of 
bombs,  with  an  immense  quantity  of  stores  and 
ammunition.  In  achieving  this  triumph  the  English 
lost  about  four  hundred  men,  and  the  French  fifteen 
hundred.  The  most  important  effect  of  this  victory 
was,  that  it  greatly  weakened  the  power  of  France 
on  the  eastern  coast  of  America.  For  not  only 
was  Louisburg,  but  also  Isle  Royal,  St.  John's  and 
their  dependencies,  at  this  time  surrendered  to  the 
English.  The  island  of  Cape  Breton  was  also  taken, 
and  French  authority  fell.  The  inhabitants  of  Cape 
Breton  were  carried  back  to  France  in  English 
ships,  but  the  garrison  of  Louisburg,  consisting  of 
more  than  five  thousand  six  hundred  men,  were 
sent  as  prisoners  of  war  to  England,  where  the 
news  of  this  important  victory  excited  a  high  de- 
gree of  joyous  enthusiasm.  The  French  flags  which 
were  taken  at  Louisburg  were  used  to  grace  a  grand 
procession  in  London,  from  Kensington  Palace  to 
the  Cathedral  at  St.  Paul's.  The  assistance  of  the 
God  of  battles  wras  at  the  same  time  also  recog- 
nized. A  special  form  of  thanksgiving  was  prepared 
and  appointed  to  be  read  in  all  the  churches. 

Amid  the  roar  of  battle  and  of  carnage  illustra- 
tions of  wit  are  sometimes  furnished  from  incidents 

which,  to  one  unaccustomed  to  war,  would  seem  to 
16* 


186      THE  FRENCH  GENERAL  DEGRADED. 

be  suggestive  of  any  other  feeling  than  that  of 
cheerfulness.  Here  is  an  instance :  While  com- 
manding the  soldiers  in  the  trenches  before  Louis- 
burg,  a  bomb  from  the  fort  grazed  the  skull  and 
knocked  off  the  hat  of  General  Lawrence,  but  with- 
out inflicting  a  serious  wound.  This  furnished  oc- 
casion for  a  humorous  remark  of  Captain  Charles 
Lee.  "I'll  resign  to-morrow,"  exclaimed  Lee. 
"Why  so?"  was  the  reply.  "Because,"  said  the 
wit,  "  none  but  a  fool  will  remain  in  a  service  in 
which  the  generals'  heads  are  bomb-proof." 

By  this  defeat  the  French  government  were  both 
pained  and  chagrined.  They  had  spent  an  immense 
amount  of  money  upon  the  fortifications  of  the  town ; 
but  all  in  vain.  They  expected  much  also  from  the 
fleet  sent  to  its  assistance.  So  indignant  were  they 
at  the  conduct  of  Marquis  De  Gouttes  who  com- 
manded the  fleet  on  this  occasion,  and  was  so  unfor- 
tunate as  to  be  conquered,  that  "  he  was  condemned 
in  France  to  be  degraded  from  his  rank  of  nobil- 
ity, to  have  his  patent  burned  by  the  common  hang- 
man,  and  to  be  imprisoned  for  twenty-one  years." 

The  depression  of  the  French  was  not  of  long 
continuance.  They  were  soon  called  upon  to  rejoice 
over  a  victory  which,  though  of  not  so  much  im- 
portance as  the  capture  of  Louisburg,  yet  redounded 
greatly  to  their  honor,  and  was  the  means  of  restor- 
ing spirit  and  enthusiasm  to  their  army. 


CHARACTER   OF   LORD    HOWE.  187 

After  the  conquest  of  Cape  Breton,  the  English 
iiext  directed  their  movements  against  Ticonderoga, 
situated  at  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  A  fort  had  been  built  on  a  point  of  land 
formed  by  the  lake  and  a  small  river,  which  con- 
ducted the  water  of  Lake  Horicon  into  that  of 
Champlaiu.  Here  Montcalm,  the  French  com- 
mander, was  intrenched,  with  forces  numbering 
over  thirty-six  hundred.  Knowing  that  the  En- 
glish intended  to  make  a  powerful  attack  upon  this 
place  with  a  formidable  army,  Montcalm  made 
every  preparation  to  give  them  a  suitable  reception. 
In  addition  to  a  high  breastwork  which  was  erect- 
ed, he  ordered  his  men  to  cut  down  trees  and 
branches,  sharpen  the  ends,  and  thickly  strew  them 
with  their  points  toward  the  enemy,  so  as  to  en- 
tangle them  and  impede  their  approach  to  the  fort. 

On  the  5th  of  July,  1758,  the  whole  English  sol- 
diery, amounting  to  upward  of  fifteen  thousand  men 
— the  largest  army  from  the  Old  World  which  had 
ever  congregated  in  the  New — took  their  departure 
from  their  place  of  encampment  on  Lake  George,  and 
directed  their  course  toward  the  north.  They  were 
commanded  by  General  Abercrombie;  under  him 
was  Lord  Howe,  a  young  officer  of  great  merit, 
who,  by  his  soldier-like  qualities,  his  courage,  deci- 
sion, good  sense,  and  humanity,  had  secured  the 
respect  of  his  brother  officers,  and  the  affectionate 


188  FEENCH    ADVANCE   GUARD   EETEEAT. 

esteem  of  the  whole  army.  In  the  dawn  of  the 
morning,  these  fifteen  thousand  soldiers,  under  the 
direction  of  their  subordinate  officers,  embarked  in 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  whale-boats,  and  nine 
hundred  other  small  boats  of  a  different  craft. 
Their  artillery  was  borne  on  rafts,  constructed  for 
the  purpose.  When  this  fleet  of  over  a  thousand 
boats  left  the  shore,  breaking  the  glassy  surface  of 
the  beautiful  Lake  George,  and  sending  the  ripples, 
like  so  many  couriers,  in  every  direction — with 
their  gorgeous  banners  streaming  over  their  heads, 
and  the  shores  echoing  the  strains  of  their  soul- 
inspiring  music — they  presented  a  magnificent 
sight.  The  soldiers,  flushed  with  recent  victory, 
were  sanguine  of  further  success. 

After  they  disembarked,  they  were  arranged  into 
four  columns,  the  British  regulars  forming  the 
center,  and  the  American  provincials  the  flanks. 
In  this  manner  they  set  out  toward  Ticonderoga, 
drawing  an  immense  train  of  artillery,  ammunition, 
and  stores  after  them. 

They  fell  in  with  an  advanced  guard  of  the 
French,  of  three  hundred  men,  under  the  command 
of  De  Trepezee,  who  had  been  sent  to  observe  the 
movements  of  the  English.  Upon  the  approach  of 
Abercrombie,  De  Trepezee  left  his  encampment, 
and  retreated.  The  English  pressed  on  over  the 
hills  and  valleys,  and  through  the  woods,  as  rapidly 


DEATH    OF   LOKD   HOWE.  189 

as  the  natural  obstructions  of  the  country  would 
allow.  As  Lord  Howe  was  advancing  with  the 
right  central  column,  he  fell  upon  De  Trepezee  and 
nis  three  hundred,  who  had  become  bewildered 
and  lost,  on  their  return  to  Fort  Carillon.  A 
severe  skirmish  at  once  ensued.  The  English  poured 
upon  these  fugitive  wanderers  a  scorching  fire, 
which  was  returned  with  spirit.  Though  attacked 
so  suddenly,  the  enemy  exhibited  great  promptitude 
and  courage  in  their  defense.  Concealing  them- 
selves in  the  bushes  and  behind  the  trees,  they 
poured  forth  successive  volleys  of  musketry,  and 
came  near  putting  their  pursuers  to  flight.  The 
provincials,  who  were  better  acquainted  with  the 
mode  of  fighting  adopted  at  this  time  by  the  French 
and  their  Indian  allies,  maintained  their  ground, 
and  prevented  a  disastrous  retreat.  De  Trepezee 
was  vanquished.  Of  his  three  hundred,  some  were 
drowned  in  a  neighboring  stream,  some  slain,  and 
about  one  hundred  and  sixty  taken  prisoners.  Yet 
this  victory  was  purchased  at  a  severe  loss ;  Lord 
Howe  fell  in  the  first  of  the  engagement  and  died 
almost  immediately.  His  loss  was  a  great  affliction 
to  the  army :  he  was  the  pride  and  confidence  of 
the  soldiers.  Great  reliance  was  placed  upon  his 
judgment,  skill,  promptitude,  and  energy  in  the 
approaching  attack  upon  Fort  Carillon  at  Ticonde- 
roga.  His  fall,  therefore,  was  followed  by  great 


190  ASSAULT   OF   TICONDEROGA, 

gloom  and  depression  in  the  army.  It  was,  also, 
deplored  throughout  the  American  colonies.  The 
colony  of  Massachusetts  voted  to  erect  a  monument 
to  his  honor  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

The  night  following  this  skirmish  the  English 
passed  in  the  woods. 

On  the  8th,  General  Abercrombie  sent  his  chief 
engineer  to  reconoiter  the  French  position.  He 
did  so,  and  brought  back  word  that  their  de- 
fenses were  weak,  and  would  present  but  little 
obstruction.  Other  officers  of  better  judgment 
differed  from  him  in  opinion.  However,  Aber- 
crombie resolved  upon  making  an  attack.  With- 
out waiting  for  his  cannon  to  be  brought  up,  which 
would  have  rendered  essential  assistance,  he  gave 
orders  for  an  immediate  assault.  His  army  ap- 
proached in  three  lines.  Montcalm,  the  French 
commander,  when  he  saw  them  advancing,  threw 
off  his  coat  and  ordered  his  men  to  retain  their 
fire  till  further  orders.  The  English  came  for- 
ward in  three  columns,  so  as  to  attack  three  dif- 
erent  points  simultaneously.  But  they  soon  found 
themselves  impeded  and  thrown  into  confusion  by 
the  trees  and  pointed  branches  which  the  French 
had  strewn  before  their  defenses.  At  the  com- 
mand of  Montcalm,  the  French  now  poured  upon 
the  besiegers  a  galling  fire  from  muskets  and 
swivels,  which  produced  great  execution.  The  offi- 


THE   KEPULSE.  191 

eers  and  men  who  were  entangled  in  promiscu- 
ous confusion  among  the  branches,  logs  and  rub- 
bish, which  the  French  had  strewn  in  front  of  their 
breastworks,  furnished  so  many  marks  for  the  be- 
sieged to  aim  at ;  the  consequence  was,  large  num- 
bers of  them  fell.  Nothing  daunted,  the  English 
came  again  and  again  to  the  attack  with  great  cour- 
age and  intrepidity.  Until  late  in  the  afternoon 
were  these  assaults  continued,  but  all  in  vain.  If 
Abercrombie  had  waited  until  his  cannon  had  ar- 
rived, before  he  commenced  the  attack,  or  if  he 
had  continued  the  conflict  until  they  were  on  the 
ground,  it  is  believed  that  he  would  have  subdued 
the  fort.  There  were  heights  in  the  vicinity  from 
which  he  could  have  poured  into  the  fort  a  destruct- 
ive fire  of  heavy  balls  that  would  have  reduced  it 
to  ruin  in  a  short  time.  Even  Montcalm,  himself, 
said,  "If  I  had  to  besiege  Fort  Carillon,  I  would 
ask  for  but  six  mortars  and  two  pieces  of  artillery." 
Abercrombie  unwisely  attempted  the  reduction 
of  the  place  without  cannon,  and  when  he  found 
that  this  was  impossible,  instead  of  postponing  fur- 
ther measures  until  his  artillery  arrived,  he  inglori- 
ously  ordered  the  siege  to  be  raised  and  his  army 
to  retreat.  So  great  was  the  confusion  and  the 
ignorance  of  the  English  respecting  the  position  of 
their  own  troops,  that  they  fired  upon  their  friends, 
producing  more  execution  than  among  the  enemy 


192  INGLORIOUS    EETEEAT. 

The  engagement  continued  four  hours,  during 
which  time  the  English  lost  in  killed  and  wounded, 
one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  forty-four,  and  then 
precipitately  retreated  to  the  boats  on  the  lake, 
which  they  had  left  at  the  landing  place.  The 
next  morning  they  embarked,  leaving  the  French, 
who  were  only  about  one  fourth  as  numerous  as 
themselves,  to  glory  in  their  success.  This  disas- 
trous result  of  an  expensive  and  magnificent  enter- 
prise, from  which  so  much  had  been  hoped,  filled 
the  colonies  with  gloom,  and  the  British  court  with* 
sadness.  The  disheartening  effects  were  almost 
equal  to  those  produced  by  the  defeat  of  Braddock, 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

Activity  of  the  French— Attempt  to  Intercept  them— Injudicious  Sport— 
A  Skirmish  the  Consequence — Putnam  a  Prisoner  to  the  Indians — Is 
tied  to  a  Tree  to  be  burned — His  Thoughts — His  Deliverance — Colonel 
Bradstreet's  Proposition — The  Expedition  against  Fort  Frontinac—- 
State  of  Things  at  Oswego — Attack  upon  Frontinac — Indian  Deserters — 
Frontinac  taken — Munitions  of  War  obtained — Armed  Vessels  seized— 
The  Fort  leveled— The  English  encouraged. 

AFTER  the  dishonorable  retreat  of  the  English 
from  Ticonderoga,  and  "  while  Abercrornbie  wearied 
his  army  with  laborious  idleness  in  lining  out  a  fort, 
the  partisans  of  Montcalm  were  present  every  where. 
Just  after  the  retreat  of  the  English  they  fell  upon 
a  regiment  at  the  half-way  brook,  between  Fort  Ed- 
ward and  Lake  George.  A  fortnight  later  they 
seized  a  convoy  of  wagoners  at  the  same  place.  To 
intercept  the  French  on  their  return  some  hundred 
rangers  scoured  the  forests  near  Woodcreek,  march- 
ing in  Indian  file,  Putnam  in  the  rear,  in  front  the 
Commander  Rogers,  who  with  a  British  officer  be- 
guiled the  way  by  firing  at  marks.  The  noise  at- 
tracted hostile  Indians  to  an  ambuscade.  A  skirm- 
ish ensued,  and  Putnam,  with  twelve  or  fourteen 
more,  was  separated  from  the  party,  His  com- 
17 


194  ATTACK   UPON   FORT   FRONTINAC. 

rades  were  scalped ;  in  after-lite  he  used  to  relate 
how  one  of  the  savages  gashed  his  cheek  with  a 
tomahawk,  bound  him  to  a  forest- tree  and  kindled 
about  him  a  crackling  fire ;  how  his  thoughts  glanced 
aside  to  the  wife  of  his  youth  and  the  group  of 
children  that  gamboled  in  his  fields,  when  the  brave 
French  officer  Marin  descried  his  danger  and  res- 
cued him  from  death,  to  be  exchanged  in  the  au- 
tumn."* 

After  the  repulse  from  Ticonderoga  Colonel  Brad- 
street  proposed  to  go  against  Fort  Frontinac.  This 
proposal  being  approved  by  a  council  of  war,  Aber- 
crombie  placed  under  his  command  about  three 
thousand  troops,  nearly  all  of  whom  were  American 
provincials.  His  artillery  consisted  of  eight  cannons 
and  three  mortars.  When  they  arrived  at  Oswego, 
where  the  two  forts  had  stood  from  which  the  En- 
glish had  been  driven  by  Montcalm,  they  found  noth- 
ing but  ruins — the  forts  having  been  destroyed,  as 
previously  related,  by  Montcalm.  A  large  wooden 
cross  had  been  left  as  a  memorial.  After  viewing 
the  spot  with  other  than  pleasant  emotions,  they 
embarked  in  open  boats,  crossed  Lake  Ontario,  and 
on  the  25th  of  August  landed  near  Frontinac. 
The  soldiers  soon  went  to  work  erecting  their  bat- 
teries. So  near  to  the  fort  were  they  planted  that, 
when  they  opened  upon  the  French,  almost  every 
*  Bancroft. 


EFFECTS    OF   VICTORY.  195 

shot  took  effect.  The  commandant  finding  that  re- 
sistance would  prove  unavailing,  surrendered  at  dis- 
cretion on  the  second  day.  The  Indian  auxiliaries 
of  the  French,  probably  believing  that  the  fort  would 
be  obliged  to  capitulate,  deserted,  and  made  their 
escape,  so  that  when  the  place  was  taken,  Bradstreet 
found  only  a  hundred  and  ten  prisoners — a  small 
number  to  cope  with  nearly  three  thousand  of  the 
enemy.  He  also  found  sixteen  small  mortars,  forty- 
six  pieces  of  cannon,  and  an  immense  collection  of 
various  kinds  of  military  stores,  provisions,  and  mer- 
chandise. These  stores  were  destined  for  Fort  Du- 
quesne  and  other  French  posts.  In  addition  to  these 
he  took  possession  of  nine  armed  vessels,  each  bear- 
ing fro 'ii  eight  to  eighteen  guns.  He  leveled  the  fort 
to  the  ground,  destroyed  seven  of  the  vessels,  sent 
two  to  Oswego,  and  then  took  away  as  much  of  the 
stores  as  his  army  could  carry. 

The  reduction  of  Fort  Frontinac  was  as  dispirit- 
ing to  the  French  as  it  was  encouraging  to  the  En- 
glish. It  inspired  the  latter  with  increased  energy 
in  their  next  expedition,  which  had  for  its  object 
the  subjugation  of  Fort  Duquesne. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A  new  Expedition  against  Duquesne — A  new  Eoad  proposed — Wash- 
ington opposes  it — The  Decision — Washington  requests  to  be  in  the 
Front  of  the  Army — Grant's  Folly — Unexpected  Attack — Injudicious 
Conduct  of  the  Highlanders — Panic  of  the  Pennsylvanians — Method 
of  the  Mary  landers— Conduct  of  Washington— Grant  a  Prisoner— Council 
of  War— Going  into  Winter  Quarters— Loyal  Hanning— Another  Fight 
—Sad  Mistakes— Indian  Policy— Indian  Deserters— Provincials  the  best 
Soldiers— Fort  Duquesne  taken— Name  altered  to  Fort  Pitt— Pay  of  the 
Soldiers. 

As  Fort  Duquesne  was  one  of  the  strongest 
posts  of  the  enemy  in  this  part  of  the  country,  it 
was  considered  by  the  English  of  great  importance 
that  it  should  be  taken  from  them.  Although 
Braddock's  attempt  to  reduce  it  had  resulted  in 
such  a  disastrous  aud  fatal  defeat,  yet  the  spirit  of 
the  colonists  was  by  no  means  destroyed,  nor  their 
desire  for  its  possession  in  the  least  degree  lessened. 
As,  however,  its  reduction  was  regarded  as  a  work 
of  great  magnitude,  and  as  all  the  colonies  were 
deeply  interested  in  the  success  of  the  enterprise, 
no  one  colony  was  willing  to  undertake  it  alone.  It 
being  admitted  to  be  a  matter  of  general  interest, 
the  various  provinces  of  Maryland,  Pennsylvania, 
Virginia  and  Carolina,  united  their  forces  for  its 


A    NEW    ROAD    PROPOSED.  191 

overthrow.  The  army  was  under  the  command  of 
General  Forbes,  assisted  by  Colonel  Washington, 
who  commanded  the  Virginia  forces,  and  Colonel 
Dagworthy  who  led  the  Maryland  soldiers.  The 
whole  army  numbered  some  six  thousand.  It  was 
a  fortunate  circumstance  for  the  colonists  that  Mr. 
Pitt  was  the  controlling  genius  of  the  British  min- 
istry in  England.  Being  deeply  impressed  with  the 
value  of  the  colonies,  and  with  the  importance  of 
protecting  them  from  the  inroads  of  the  Indians 
and  the  aggressions  of  the  French,  he  addressed  the 
colonies  upon  the  importance  of  union  among  them- 
selves against  the  common  enemy,  and  proposed  to 
furnish  the  soldiers  with  provisions,  ammunition, 
tents,  and  weapons,  at  the  expense  of  the  English 
government.  This  would  throw  upon  the  colonies 
the  responsibility  of  providing  only  the  clothes  and 
the  wages  of  the  men.  This  proposition  was  re- 
ceived with  gladness,  as  the  colonies  themselves 
were  poorly  able  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  cam- 
paign. 

General  Forbes  was  in  favor  of  cutting  open  a 
new  road  through  Pennsylvania  to  the  Ohio  for 
the  troops  to  pass  through.  To  this,  Washington 
was  strongly  opposed.  The  old  road,  by  which 
Braddock  had  marched,  was  open,  and  by  that  route 
the  army  could  pass  without  obstruction;  but  to 

prepare  a  new  road  through  a  primeval  forest,  over 
17* 


198  WASHINGTON'S    BEQUEST. 

mountains  and  across  rivers,  would  necessarily  oc- 
cupy a  great  amount  of  time,  besides  greatly  in- 
creasing their  exposure  to  ambuscades  and  sudden 
attacks  of  the  enemy,  under  circumstances  which 
would  render  it  extremely  difficult  to  repel  them. 
Washington  used  every  argument  in  his  power  to 
dissuade  him  from  this  injudicious  measure,  but  was 
unsuccessful.  Orders  were  given  for  the  new  road 
to  be  opened.  Although  Washington  was  fully 
convinced  of  the  bad  policy  of  this  movement,  and 
exerted  himself  in  every  possible  way  to  divert 
General  Forbes  from  it,  yet  so  soon  as  it  was  de- 
cided upon  by  his  superior  officers,  he  suppressed 
his  own  dissatisfaction,  and  devoted  himself  zeal- 
ously to  the  execution  of  the  plan.  He  asked  the 
privilege  of  being  placed  with  the  Virginia  troops 
in  the  advance  of  the  main  army,  that  they  might 
act  as  pioneers  in  breaking  the  way,  and  as  scouts 
on  the  look-out  for  lurking  foes.  This  request  was 
granted,  and  Washington  with  his  brave  Virgin- 
ians were  sent  ahead  to  prepare  the  way,  to  guard 
against  surprise,  and  to  provide  intrenchments  at 
suitable  places  where  the  army  might  pause  in  its 
march.  This  work  of  cutting  a  new  road  through  a 
wilderness  was  extremely  slow.  When  they  were 
about  fifty  miles  from  Fort  Duquesne,  winter  had 
set  in  with  its  unwelcome  attendants  of  frost,  rain, 
sleet  and  snow.  A  council  of  war  was  held,  whicl; 


GRANT'S  FOLLY.  199 

decided  that  it  was  impracticable  to  advance  any  fur- 
ther at  present,  and  therefore  operations  must  cease 
till  spring.  While  making  arrangements  to  go  into 
their  winter  encampment,  three  of  the  enemy  were 
taken  prisoners.  They  were  closely  examined  re- 
specting the  condition  of  Fort  Duquesne,  and  gave 
such  a  statement  of  its  weaknesss,  that  the  decision 
to  go  into  winter  quarters  was  reversed,  and  orders 
were  given  to  push  on  with  as  much  alacrity  as 
possible. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  month  of  September  Ma- 
jor Grant  was  sent  forward  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
connoitering  the  enemy ;  he  took  with  him  a  picked 
corps  of  between  eight  and  nine  hundred  men,* 
among  whom  were  more  than  three  hundred  High- 
landers, one  hundred  and  fourteen  royal  Americans, 
one  hundred  and  seventy-six  Virginians,  ninety-five 
Marylanders,  one  hundred  and  twelve  Pennsylva- 
nians  and  thirteen  Carolina  troops.  Under  the  cover 
of  night  he  took  up  his  position  on  a  hill,  a  short 
distance  from  Fort  Duquesne.  Not  satisfied  with 
having  taken,  unknown  to  his  enemy  a  strong  po- 
sition, he  resorted  to  other  measures  which  were 
adapted  to  irritate  them  and  excite  them  to  a  des- 
perate defense.  In  the  morning  by  way  of  taunt 
and  bravado  he  ordered  the  reveille  to  be  beaten 
upon  the  drums,  and  the  bag-pipes  to  be  sounded 

*  Green's  Gazette  in  McSherry's  History  of  Maryland. 


200  CONDUCT    OF    WASHINGTON. 

in  various  places.  As  soon  as  the  garrison  discov 
ered  Avhat  had  been  done,  a  party  of  Indians  sallied 
from  the  fort,  and  stealthily  pursued  their  way  under 
the  protection  furnished  by  the  banks  of  the  river, 
until  they  gained  an  eminence  higher  than  that  which 
was  occupied  by  Grant.  It  was  not  long  before 
they  surrounded  the  English,  and  opened  upon  them 
their  fire.  The  Highlanders  adopted  the  most  in- 
judicious method  of  procedure  under  the  circum- 
stances which  could  have  been  devised.  They 
"were  drawn  out  in  close  array,"  which  made 
them  a  conspicuous  mark  for  the  enemy,  and  on 
Tvhich  every  discharge  of  their  muskets  produced 
fatal  effects.  The  consequence  was  that  after  many 
of  them  were  slain,  the  rest  retreated.  The  troops 
from  Pennsylvania  were  panic-stricken  and  fled  at 
the  first  fire.  But  the  Marylanders  and  Carolinians 
adopted  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare.  They  betook 
themselves  to  the  bushes  and  woods,  and  under 
the  protection  which  they  furnished,  fired  at  the  ene- 
my. Washington  unfortunately  at  that  time  was 
two  miles  in  the  rear,  where  he  had  been  order- 
ed to  protect  the  baggage  of  the  army.  As  soon 
as  the  noise  of  the  engagement  reached  him,  he 
urged  his  men  rapidly  on  to  the  scene  of  conflict  to 
assist  Grant.  The  Indians  fought  with  great  vigor. 
The  English  were  unable  to  maintain  their  ground, 
and  after  a  loss  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-three 


PAINFUL   INTELLIGENCE.  201 

killed  and  forty-two  wounded  they  were  compelled 
to  flee.  The  Maryland  ers,  who  had  exhibited  great 
bravery  on  the  field,  with  a  small  number  of  Vir- 
ginians performed  the  responsible  and  perilous  duty 
of  covering  the  retreat  of  the  army.  Nearly  one 
half  of  the  Maryland  troops  was  either  killed  or 
wounded.  Many  prisoners  were  taken  by  the  In- 
dians, among  whom  was  Major  Grant  himself. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  at  Braddock's  defeat 
before  this  same  fort,  the  forces  under  Colonel  Dun- 
bar  rapidly  retreated  without  pausing  at  any  point 
to  make  a  stand,  or  to  retrieve  the  fortunes  of  the 
day.  The  Indians  supposed  it  would  be  the  same 
on  the  present  occasion  ;  they  did  not  therefore  at- 
tempt any  pursuit,  but  contented  themselves  with 
what  plunder  and  prisoners  they  could  take  from 
the  immediate  scene  of  action.  A  large  number  of 
them  withdrew  from  the  fort  and  returned  to  their 
own  grounds,  notwithstanding  the  earnest  entreaties 
of  the  French  for  them  to  remain  with  them.  This, 
as  we  shall  presently  see,  operated  favorably  for  the 
English. 

The  soldiers  who  had  been  defeated  were  an 
advanced  detachment.  The  main  body,  under 
Forbes,  was  slowly  following.  On  the  5th  of  No- 
vember, they  reached  a  military  post  at  Loyal 
Hanning.  They  here  received  the  painful  intelli- 
gence that  the  advanced  guard  had  been  totally 


2<y  VICTORY    AT   LOYAL   HANNERING. 

defeaieJ.  The  enthusiasm  of  the  soldiers  was 
checked  by  these  unwelcome  tidings.  They  felt 
humbled  and  discouraged.  The  officers  hardly 
Knew  what  was  the  better  course  to  pursue, 
whether  to  continue  their  march  toward  the  scene 
of  action  and  meet  the  enemy,  who  were  flushed 
and  emboldened  by  their  recent  victory,  or  go  into 
winter-quarters  where  they  were.  A  council  of 
war  was  held.  Owing  to  the  recent  defeat,  the 
coldness  of  the  season,  the  difficulty  of  the  roads, 
and  the  danger  of  being  met  under  unfavorable  cir- 
cumstances by  their  victorious  enemy,  it  was  de- 
cided to  be  the  wiser  course  to  bring  the  present 
campaign  to  a  close  by  going  into  winter  quarters. 
The  enemy,  who  were  kept  constantly  informed  of 
all  the  movements  of  the  English,  being  highly  de- 
lighted with  the  results  of  the  first  engagement, 
resolved  to  follow  up  their  success  with  another 
attack.  For  this  purpose  the  French  troops,  in 
connection  with  those  Indians  who  had  been  per- 
suaded to  remain  at  the  fort,  were  ordered  lo  ad- 
vance upon  the  English.  They  met  at  Loyal  Han- 
ning,  October  12th,  and  were  soon  in  the  midst  of  a 
severe  engagement.  The  battle  was  kept  up  with 
great  energy  on  both  sides  for  four  hours!  The 
English  gained  upon  the  French  and  Indians,  until 
finally  the  latter  retreated,  discomfited,  from  the 
field,  carrying  with  them  their  wounded  and  their 


SUDDEN   ATTACK.  203 

dead.  This  was  an  important  engagement.  It 
banished  the  despondency  of  the  English,  restored 
to  them  their  courage  and  energy,  and  nerved 
them  to  the  cheerful  endurance  of  other  fatigues 
and  conflicts.  At  the  same  time  it  checked  the 
audacity  of  the  French,  and  sent  them  hack  some- 
what broken  in  spirit.  The  loss  of  the  English  in 
this  engagement  was  sixty-seven  killed  and  wound- 
ed, including  both  officers  and  men. 

In  this  engagement  the  Maryland  troops  came  in 
for  their  loss.  They  had  one  officer  and  two  pri- 
vates killed,  one  officer  and  six  privates  wounded, 
and  eleven  were  missing.  The  slain  officer  was 
Lieutenant  Prather,  the  wounded  one  was  Ensign 
Bell.  The  number  of  the  enemy  that  fell  was  not 
known,  as  they  were  all  removed  from  the  field. 

The  defeated  army  did  not  retreat  far.  Burning 
with  revenge  they  hung  upon  the  skirts  of  the 
English,  watching  for  a  favorable  opportunity  to 
pounce  upon  them,  and  recover  their  lost  honors. 
Scouts  were  frequently  sent  out  by  the  English, 
to  see  where  the  foe  was  lurking.  One  of  these 
parties  fell  in  on  the  12th  of  November  with  a  de- 
tachment of  the  enemy.  An  engagement  at  once 
took  place.  A  party  of  Virginians  who  were  at 
hand,  hearing  the  sharp  and  rapid  firing,  and  sus- 
pecting immediately  the  occasion,  came  rapidly  to 
the  assistance  of  their  friends.  But  in  consequence 


204  US  ^>IAN   POLICY. 


of  a  dense  fog  prevailing  at  the  time,  they  were 
mistaken  for  a  new  detachment  of  the  enemy,  and 
unfortunately  fired  upon  as  such,  by  those  whom 
they  had  come  to  help,  before  the  error  was  discov- 
ered. Among  the  instances  of  individual  prowess 
which  were  displayed  on  that  occasion,  it  is  related 
that  Captain  Evan  Shelly,  who  commanded  the 
Maryland  Volunteers,  had  a  personal  encounter 
with  a  prominent  Indian  chief,  and  succeeded,  with- 
out any  help,  in  giving  him  a  mortal  wound,  and 
leaving  him  dead  upon  the  field. 

As  intelligence  of  this  victory  was  diffused  among 
the  colonies,  it  banished  despondency  and  awakened 
hope  of  the  successful  issue  of  the  campaign.  The 
disheartening  effects  of  the  previous  defeat  sub- 
sided, and  an  increased  spirit  of  patriotic  enterprise 
was  developed. 

Among  the  favorable  results  of  this  battle  was 
the  disgust  which  was  awakened  in  the  min<is  of 
the  Indians  toward  the  French,  with  whom  they 
were  in  alliance.  The  truth  is,  the  Indians  were 
fighting  for  pay  and  plunder.  To  the  interior 
tribes  it  was  a  matter  of  small  consequence  whether 
the  French  or  the  English  conquered.  They  were, 
therefore,  willing  to  take  sides  with  that  party  who 
would  be  the  most  likely  to  be  victorious,  and  fur- 
nish them  with  the  greatest  amount  of  wages  and 
spoils.  When,  therefore,  the  French  were  defeated, 


THE   BEST   SOLDIERS.  20f 

their  Indian  allies  felt  as  if  they  had  espoused  the 
wrong  side.  They  did  not  obtain  so  great  a  num- 
ber of  scalps,  nor  so  great  an  amount  of  plunder  as 
they  desired.  They,  therefore,  deserted,  and  left 
the  French  to  take  care  of  themselves. 

One  day  a  prisoner  was  taken  by  Captain  Ware 
of  the  Maryland  troops,  and  brought  into  camp. 
According  to  custom,  he  was  examined  in  order 
that  from  him  might  be  ascertained  the  condition 
of  the  enemy.  He  gave  the  pleasing  intelligence  of 
the  withdrawal  of  the  Indians,  and  the  consequent 
weakness  of  the  garrison  at  Fort  Duquesne.  After 
the  reception  of  this  information,  the  English  com- 
mander determined  to  press  on  and  surprise  the 
fort  before  it  could  receive  any  reinforcements. 

The  deserting  Indians  said  that  they  had  no  diffi- 
culty in  overcoming  the  British  regulars,  but  they 
found  it  impossible  to  resist  the  attacks  of  the  pro- 
vincials— those  companies  which  were  composed  of 
American  colonists.  This  assertion  develops  an 
important  fact.  These  "regulars"  were  soldiers 
who  had  enlisted  in  the  English  army  for  pay. 
They  would  go  any  where,  and  fight  any  nation 
against  whom  they  were  sent.  They  had,  person- 
ally, nothing  at  stake  but  their  own  li ves.  With  the 
colonists  it  was  far  otherwise.  They  hazarded 
every  thing.  While,  therefore,  it  was  compara 
tively  easy  for  the  Indians  to  overcome  the  "  regu- 
18 


206  FORT   DUQUESNE   ABANDONED. 

lars,"  they  found  it  almost  impossible  to  prevail 
against  the  colonists.  This  fact  shows  that  men 
who  are  fighting  for  their  homes,  for  the  protection 
of  wives,  children,  and  all  that  is  most  dear  to 
them,  will  exhibit  a  far  greater  degree  of  courage, 
fortitude,  and  perseverance,  than  those  who  engage 
in  war  merely  for  glory  or  for  pay. 

Past  experience,  as  well  as  the  assertion  of  the 
Indians,  prompted  the  commander  to  give  the  ad- 
vance to  Colonel  Washington  with  his  Virginia 
provincials,  instead  of  assigning  u  *o  one  of  the  im- 
ported British  officers. 

Leaving  the  tents  and  heavy  camp  equipages  be- 
hind, the  army  pressed  on  as  rapidly  as  possible. 
With  Washington  in  front,  marking  out  the  course 
to  be  pursued,  attending  to  the  arduous  work  of  open- 
ing a  new  road,  preparing  the  way,  and  making  de- 
posits of  provisions  for  the  main  army,  and  with 
the  personal  example  of  the  officers,  who  assisted  the 
soldiers  in  the  work,  they  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  fort  by  the  24th  of  November.  When  the  gar- 
rison found  these  unwelcome  visitors  in  their  neigh- 
borhood,  they  were  alarmed.  Being  reduced  in 
numbers  and  in  spirit,  they  had  no  disposition  to 
attempt  holding  out  against  the  English,  who  had 
just  come  from  a  successful  conflict.  They  decided, 
therefore,  to  abandon  the  fort.  After  collecting 
the  most  important  articles  they  should  want  on 


DITQTTESNE   CALLED   FOET   PITT.  207 

their  retreat,  they  seized  the  opportunity,  when  the 
darkness  of  night  would  prevent  detection,  and 
secretly  left  the  fort,  fled  to  the  Ohio  river,  which 
was  at  hand,  took  boats  and  rowed  themselves 
down  the  stream.  When,  on  the  next  day,  the 
English  reached  the  fort,  they  were  surprised  and 
pleased  to  find  it  abandoned.  There  was  not  much, 
however,  there,  for  the  French,  as  they  left,  set  fire 
to  the  place.  The  smoldering  embers  which  were 
still  smoking  when  the  English  came  up,  showed  to 
what  extremity  the  enemy  had  been  driven.  Thus 
this  important  position,  which  had  already  caused 
the  colonists  so  much  blood  and  treasure,  was  now 
in  their  possession.  The  commander  resolved  that 
two  things  should  be  done:  First,  that  the  fort 
should  be  repaired,  and  put  in  a  good  state  of  de- 
fense. By  the  combined  enterprise  of  officers  and 
soldiers,  this  was  soon  accomplished.  He  next  re- 
solved that  it  should  receive  a  new  name.  As 
Mr.  Pitt,  of  the  British  Parliament,  had  deeply 
sympathized  with  the  colonists,  and  had  powerfully 
advocated  their  cause;  and  as  through  his  encour- 
igement  and  assistance,  this  campaign  had  been  un- 
dertaken, it  was  determined,  as  a  token  of  the  honor 
in  which  he  was  held  by  the  provincials,  to  call  the 
place  Fort  Pitt.  *  Leaving  a  garrison  of  two  hun- 
dred Virginians  to  protect  the  fort,  the  remainder 
of  the  army  joyfully  returned  homeward. 
*  Now  Pittsburg. 


208  PAY    OF   THE    SOLDIERS. 

The  capture  of  Fort  Pitt  was  a  circumstance  of 
great  moment  in  those  stirring  times.  It  filled  the 
hearts  of  the  colonists  with  joy,  and  imparted  to 
them  new  life.  Governor  Sharp  deemed  it  an  oo 
casion  worthy  of  being  commemorated  by  a  day  of 
public  thanksgiving  and  praise,  and  he  accordingly 
issued  a  proclamation  to  tl**t.  effect.  In  addition  to 
this,  the  Assembly  of  Maryland,  as  a  testimony  of 
gratitude  to  the  patriotic  men  who  helped  to  con- 
stitute the  victorious  army,  voted  to  distribute 
fifteen  hundred  pounds  among  them.  This  was  ap- 
propriated as  follows  : — to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Dag- 
worthy,  thirty  pounds ;  to  each  captain,  sixteen 
pounds ;  lieutenant,  twelve  pounds ;  ensign,  nine 
pounds ;  and  to  each  non-commissioned  officer,  six 
pounds :  the  remainder  was  spent  for  clothing  and 
Other  comforts  for  the  private  soldiers. 


CHAPTER    XYIII. 

Indian  Deputations— An  affecting  Duty— Searching  for  the  Dead— A  sin- 
gular  Incident — Dreadful  Mementoes. — Tragic  Scenes — Battle  of  Niagara 
— French  Defeated — Surrender  of  the  Garrison — No  Retaliation — Cap- 
tive Soldiers — Are  sent  to  Albany — Women  and  Children  sent  to  Que- 
bec— French  communication  between  Canada  and  Louisiana  destroyed. 

After  Fort  Duquesne  was  deserted  by  the  French 
and  taken  possession  of  by  the  English,  it  was  visited 
by  deputations  of  the  various  tribes  of  Indians,  who 
came  to  form  a  friendly  alliance  with  the  victors. 
Among  these  were  some  who  were  the  adherents 
of  the  French  at  the  time  of  Braddock's  defeat,  and 
who  were  engaged  in  that  battle. 

With  their  assistance  General  Forbes  resolved  to 
search  the  woods  for  the  unburied  corpses  of  those 
soldiers,  who  were  slain  in  that  unfortunate  cam- 
paign, and  bestow  upon  them  the  appropriate  rites 
of  a  military  interment.  A  touching  account  of  this 
affecting  service  is  given  in  Gait's  "Life  of  West." 
He  says,  "  After  the  taking  of  Fort  Duquesne  Gen- 
eral Forbes  resolved  to  search  for  the  relics  of  Brad- 
dock's  army.  As  the  European  soldiers  were  not 

so  well  qualified  to  explore  the  forests,  Captain  West, 
18* 


210     .  A    SINGULAR    INCIDENT. 

the  elder  brother  of  Benjamin  West,  the  painter, 
was  appointed,  with  his  company  of  sharpshooters,  to 
assist  in  the  execution  of  this  duty ;  and  a  party  of 
Indian  warriors,  who  had  returned  to  the  British 
interests,  were  requested  to  conduct  him  to  the 
places  where  the  bones  of  the  slain  were  likely  to 
be  found.  In  this  solemn  and  affecting  duty  several 
officers,  belonging  to  the  forty-second  regiment,  ac- 
companied the  detachment  and  with  them  Major 
Sir  Peter  Halket,  who  had  lost  his  father  and 
brother  in  the  fatal  destruction  of  the  army.  It 
might  have  been  thought  a  hopeless  task  that  he 
should  be  able  to  discriminate  their  remains  from 
the  common  relics  of  the  other  soldiers ;  but  he  was 
induced  to  think  otherwise,  as  one  of  the  Indian 
warriors  assured  him  that  he  had  seen  an  officer  fall 
near  a  remarkable  tree,  which  he  thought  he  could 
still  discover ;  informing  him  at  the  same  time  that 
the  incident  was  impressed  on  his  memory  by  ob- 
serving a  young  subaltern,  who,  in  running  to  the 
officer's  assistance,  was  also  shot  dead,  on  his  reach- 
ing the  spot,  and  fell  across  the  other's  body.  The 
major  had  a  mournful  conviction  in  his  own  mind 
that  the  two  officers  were  his  father  and  brother ; 
and,  indeed,  it  was  chiefly  owing  to  his  anxiety  on 
the  subject  that  this  pious,  expedition,  the  second 
of  the  kind  that  history  records,  was  undertaken. 
"Captain  West  and  his  companions  proceeded 


DREADFUL   MEMENTOES.  21] 

through  the  woods  and  along  the  banks  of  the  river, 
toward  the  scene  of  the  battle.  The  Indians  regard- 
ed the  expedition  as  a  religious  service,  and  guided 
the  troops  with  awe  and  in  profound  silence.  The 
soldiers  were  affected  with  sentiments  not  less  se- 
rious ;  and  as  they  explored  the  bewildering  laby- 
rinths of  those  vast  forests,  their  hearts  were  often 
melted  with  inexpressible  sorrow  ;  for  they  frequent- 
ly found  skeletons  lying  across  the  trunks  of  fallen 
trees — a  mournful  proof,  to  their  imaginations,  that 
the  men  who  sat  there  had  perished  from  Hunger, 
while  vainly  attempting  to  find  their  way  to  the  plan- 
tations. Sometimes  their  feelings  were  raised  to  the 
utmost  pitch  of  horror  by  the  sight  of  skulls  and 
bones  scattered  on  the  ground — a  certain  indication 
that  the  bodies  had  been  devoured  by  wild  beasts; 
and  in  other  places  they  saw  the  blackness  of  ashes 
amid  the  relics — the  tremendous  evidence  of  atro- 
cious rites. 

"  At  length  they  reached  a  turn  of  the  river,  not 
far  from  the  principal  scene  of  destruction ;  and  the 
Indian  who  remembered  the  death  of  the  two  offi- 
cers stopped.  The  detachment  also  halted.  He 
then  looked  around  in  quest  of  some  object  which 
might  recall  distinctly  his  recollection  of  the  ground, 
and  suddenly  darted  into  the  wood.  The  soldiers 
rested  on  their  arms  without  speaking.  A  shrill  cry 
was  soon  after  heard,  and  the  other  guides  made 


212 


FINDING    DECEASED    RELATIVES 


signs  for  the  troops  to  follow  them  toward  the  spot 
from  which  it  came.  In  a  short  time  they  reached 
the  Indian  warrior,  who  by  his  cry  had  announced 
to  his  companions  that  he  had  found  the  place  where 
he  was  posted  on  the  day  of  battle.  As  the  troops 
approached  he  pointed  to  the  tree  under  which  the 


SEARCHING   FOB   THE   DEAD. 

officers  had  fallen.  Captain  West  halted  his  men 
round  the  spot,  and  with  Sir  Peter  Halket  and  the 
other  officers,  formed  a  circle,  while  the  Indians  re- 
moved the  leaves  which  thickly  covered  the  ground. 
The  skeletons  were  found  as  the  Indian  expected, 
lying  across  each  other.  The  officers  having  look- 


CROWN    POINT   ABANDONED.  213 

ed  at  them  some  time,  the  Major  said  that  as  his 
father  had  an  artificial  tooth,  he  thought  he  might 
be  able  to  ascertain  if  they  were  indeed  his  bones 
and  those  of  his  brother.  The  Indians  were  there- 
fore ordered  to  remove  the  skeleton  of  the  youth, 
and  to  bring  to  view  that  of  the  old  officer.  This 
was  immediately  done ;  and  after  a  short  examina- 
tion Major  Halket  exclaimed,  '  It  is  my  father !' 
and  fell  back  into  the  arms  of  his  companions.  The 
pioneers  then  dug  a  grave,  and  the  bones  being  laid 
in  it  together,  a  Highland  plaid  was  spread  over 
them,  and  they  were  interred  with  the  customary 
honors."  The  soldiers  then  returned. 

After  the  reduction  of  Fort  Duquesne,  the  En- 
glish were  resolved  to  follow  up  their  advantages, 
and,  if  possible,  to  drive  the  French  from  all  their 
strong  posts  at  the  north.  A  new  expedition  was 
fitted  out  against  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point. 
This  was  more  successful  than  the  former  one.  For 
when  General  Amherst  approached  Ticonderoga 
with  an  overwhelming  force,  the  French  abandoned 
the  fort,  and  hastily  retreated  to  Crown  Point. 
Amherst  repaired  the  place,  left  a  garrison  for  its 
defense,  and  then  followed  the  retreating  soldiers  to 
Crown  Point.  He  approached  this  place  with  great, 
but,  as  the  event  proved,  with  unnecessary  caution. 
For  when  he  reached  it,  he  found  it,  like  Ticon- 
deroga, abandoned.  These  various  forts  were  of 


214  JOHNSON'S  ARRANGEMENTS. 

great  importance,  and  their  possession  gave  the 
English  the  command  of  the  northern  portion  of 
New  York,  and  greatly  assisted  them  in  extending 
their  domains  over  the  American  continent. 

General  Prideaux  was  dispatched  with  an  army 
of  British  regulars,  provincials,  and  Indians,  to  take 
Fort  Niagara,  situated  on  Lake  Ontario,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Niagara  river.  He  engaged  in  this 
enterprise  with  commendable  spirit,  hut  was  killed 
by  the  bursting  of  a  cannon. 

After  this  unfortunate  event,  the  command  de- 
volved on  Johnson.  Knowing  the  great  importance 
of  conquering  Fort  Niagara,  Johnson,  with  his  ac- 
customed skill  and  energy,  made  a  judicious  dispo- 
sition of  his  troops,  sending  some  into  the  trenches 
to  prevent  a  sally  from  the  fort,  and  arranging 
others  at  safe  intervals  along  the  road  from  the  fort 
to  Niagara  Falls,  to  cut  oif  whatever  reinforcements 
might  be  sent  to  the  French.  His  Indian  allies  he 
disposed  on  the  sides  or  flanks  of  the  army,  where 
he  believed  they  would  render  the  most  essential 
service.  On  July  24th,,  about  the  middle  of  the 
forenoon,  the  French  reinforcements,  which  had 
been  expected,  arrived.  As  they  approached,  the 
Mohawks,  who  were  on  the  side  of  the  English,  pro- 
posed to  hold  a  parley  with  the  Indians  who  were 
in  alliance  with  the  French.  This  friendly  proposal 
wast  declined.  Immediately  the  rocks  and  forests 


THE   FRENCH   DEFEATED.  215 

echoed  and  re-echoed  with  the  horrid,  unearthly 
yells  of  these  savages,  who  by  their  war  cries  indi- 
cated their  design  of  indulging  in  their  favorite  di- 
version of  shedding  blood  and  gathering  the  scalps 
of  their  enemies.  The  French  rushed  upon  the 
English  with  great  impetuosity,  pouring  upon  them 
a  shower  of  balls  which  did  fatal  execution.  But 
they  were  received  with  great  steadiness  by  the 
little  army  of  Johnson.  The  battle  soon  became 
general.  The  British  regulars  and  provincials 
effectually  held  them  in  check  in  front,  while  on  the 
flank  they  were  severely  scathed  by  the  fire  of  the 
Indians.  It  was  an  exciting  scene.  The  mighty 
thundering  of  Niagara's  cataract,  mingled  with  the 
roar  of  the  artillery,  the  demoniac  shrieks  of  the 
savages,  and  the  groans  of  the  dying.  The  grass 
and  beautiful  summer  flowers  were  stained  by  the 
crimson  blood  of  the  slain.  Huge  volumes  of  smoke 
rose,  from  the  scene  of  conflict,  shutting  out  the 
light  of  the  sun  and  concealing  the  combatants  as 
with  a  cloudy  tabernacle.  It  was  all,  however,  of 
short  duration.  For  with  such  spirit  and  steadiness 
did  the  English  continue  the  engagement,  that  in 
less  than  an  hour,  the  French  gave  way,  and  com- 
menced to  retreat.  They  were  followed  so  closely 
and  vigorously  by  Johnson,  that  the  retreat  soon 
became-  a  rout.  They  were  pursued  many  miles 
like  a  drove  of  hunted  deer.  Their  general  and  all 


216  DISPOSAL    OF   THE   PRISONERS. 

his  officers  were  taken  prisoners,  while  uncounted 
numbers  fell,  to  suffer  uncared  for,  to  die  unknown, 
and  to  decay  unburied  amid  the  primeval  forests  of 
the  New  World.  The  next  morning,  Johnson  sent 
word  to  the  commandant  of  Fort  Niagara  that  all 
his  expected  reinforcements  were  cut  off,  and  ad- 
vised him  to  capitulate  without  any  more  shedding 
of  blood.  When  the  commandant  was  convinced 
that  this  intelligence  was  correct,  he  saw  the  useless- 
ness  of  attempting  to  hold  out  against  a  victorious 
army  with  the  limited  means  at  his  command.  He 
therefore  surrendered  at  once.  The  garrison,  con- 
sisting of  about  seven  hundred  men,  were  allowed 
to  march  out  with  the  honors  of  war,  retaining  their 
baggage,  and  to  have  a  safe  escort  to  protect  them 
from  the  ferocity  of  the  Indians.  Although  there 
were  more  than  a  thousand  savages  in  Johnson's 
army,  yet  none  of  them  were  allowed  to  torture  a 
prisoner ;  so  that  the  dreadful  massacres  which  oc- 
curred at  Fort  William  Henry  and  Oswego,  were 
not  retaliated  upon  the  French.  The  captive  sol- 
diers were  taken  prisoners  of  war  to  Albany  ;  but 
the  women  and  children  were,  at  their  own  desire, 
sent  to  Montreal,  while  the  sick  and  the  wounded, 
who  could  not  be  removed,  were  treated  with  con- 
siderate humanity.  The  capture  of  Fort  Niagara 
effectually  cut  off  the  French  communication  be- 
tween Canada  and  Louisiana,  which  the  English  so 


DISPOSAL    OF   THE   PRISONERS. 


217 


much  feared.  All  that  now  remained  was  for  the 
English  to  get  possession  of  Quebec  and  Montreal, 
and  the  French  power  in  the  northern  part  of 
America  would  be  completely  annihilated.  How 
this  was  attempted,  and  what  was  the  result,  will 
be  related  in  the  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 


Situation  of  Quebec— Its  strong  Defenses— Montcalm's  Army— His  Mili- 
tary arrangements— A  Fleet  of  Fire-ships— How  they  are  disposed  of— 
Batteries  erected— Terrific  Fire-stages — Battle  of  Montmorency — Ill- 
judged  Assault — The  English  repulsed — The  French  fire  upon  the  Wound- 
ed and  the  Dead— Their  Apology  for  this  Cruel  y— General  Wolfe  sick-- 
A  perilous  Project— Wolfe  approves  it— Its  great  Difficulties— Courage- 
ous Midnight  Adventure — Heights  of  Abraham  gained — Preparations  for 
Battle— Position  of  the  two  Armies— Battle  on  the  Heights— Wolfe's 
Death  in  Victory— The  French  Defeated— Death  of  Montcalm— Quebec 
taken  by  the  English. 


AMONG  the  most  important  operations  of  the  En- 
glish  in  their  contest  with  France  for  the  conquest 
of  the  New  World,  were  their  operations  on  the 
shores  of  the  magnificent  river  St.  Lawrence. 
Quebec  was  situated  on  the  northern  bank  of  this 
river,  in  a  high  precipitous  location,  the  ascent  to 
which,  from  the  water,  was  exceedingly  difficult.  A 
few  miles  below  it,  that  is,  toward  the  east,  the  river 
Montmorency,  a  strong,  rapid  stream,  emptied  into 
and  mingled  its  waters  with  those  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence, furnishing  an  important  means  of  defense  to 
the  town ;  while  still  nearer,  the  St.  Charles  in- 
creased the  difficulties  of  approach,  not  only  by  its 
channel,  but  also  by  immense  marshes  which  were 


A   FLEET   OF   FIRE-SHIPS.  219 

formed  by  the  expansion  of  its  waters  over  the  low 
flatlands  at  the  eastern  base  of  the  town. 

For  the  protection  of  the  town,  in  addition  to 
its  strong  natural  defenses,  General  Montcalm  had 

six  battalions  of  soldiers  and  a  number  of  Indian  war- 

• 

riors,  amounting  in  all  to  nine  or  ten  thousand  men. 
To  overcome  these  difficulties,  and  to  conquer  this 
strongly  intrenched  army,  General  Wolfe  had,  in 
British  regulars,  Provincial  soldiers  and  Indians, 
about  eight  thousand,  who  on  the  26th  of  June,  1759, 
arrived  off  the  Isle  of  Orleans,  on  which  they  landed 
the  next  day.  They  here  became  acquainted  with 
the  numerous  difficulties  of  their  undertaking.  All 
along  below  the  town,  down  to  the  mouth  of 'the 
Montmorency,  and  for  nine  miles  above  it,  every 
point  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  where'  it  was  probable 
the  English  would  attempt  to  land,  or  from  which 
it  was  possible  to  annoy  them,  there  were  forts, 
batteries,  mortars,  floating  batteries,  inflammable 
rafts  and  fire-boats,  all  ready  for  use  the  moment 
any  occasion  offered.  On  the  night  of  the  28th, 
about  12  o'clock,  the  English  were  startled  by  strange 
lights  in  the  river  above  them  ;  they  grew  brighter 
and  brighter  and  approached  nearer  and  nearer,  un- 
til they  illumined  the  whole  river,  and  brought  to 
view  the  various  objects  on  both  shores.  They  were 
a  fleet  of  fire-ships,  which  the  French  had  kindled 
and  set  adrift  to  be  borne  down  by  the  combined 


220  TERRIFIC   FIRE-STAGES. 

force  of  the  current  and  of  a  strong  wind  which  waa 
blowing  at  the  time,  in  order  to  set  the  English  fleet 
on  fire.  This  fleet  consisted  of  forty-four  ships,  frig- 
ates and  other  armed  vessels,  and  if  any  important 
portion  of  them  had  been  destroyed,  it  might  have 
operated  very  unfavorably  for  the  whole  army. 
This,  however,  was  prevented  by  the  promptness, 
skill,  and  shrewdness  of  the  British  sailors ;  for  so 
soon  as  they  understood  the  nature  and  design  of 
this  fleet  of  flame,  they  manned  their  small  boats, 
rowed  toward  the  burning  vessels,  grappled  them, 
and  towed  them  ashore  so  that  they  did  no  injury 
whatever.  The  next  night  the  English  took  posses- 
sion of  a  point  opposite  Quebec,  called  Point  Levi. 
They  here  erected  batteries,  and  commenced  throw- 
ing balls  and  shells  into  the  town.  These  greatly 
alarmed  the  inhabitants,  and  set  on  fire  a  number 
of  dwellings,  but  they  produced  no  impression  upon 
the  fortifications.  So  high  was  the  upper  town  above 
the  river,  that  no  injury  could  be  inflicted  upon  it 
by  the  ships.  Engagements  frequently  took  place 
between  small  parties  of  the  French  and  English, 
but  without  any  important  results.  A  month  roll- 
ed away.  On  the  29th  of  July  the  enemy  made  an- 
other attempt  to  burn  the  British  fleet.  They  con- 
structed a  raft  of  nearly  a  hundred  fire-stages,  and 
set  it  afloat  upon  the  current  of  the  river.  It  came 
down  like  a  village  in  flames,  but  proved  harmless. 


BATTLE    OF    MONTMORENCY.  221 

Wolfe  now  resolved  to  draw  the  enemy  into  action. 
Various  projects  were  proposed.  The  most  feasible 
one  was  to  attack  a  strong  detachment  of  the  French, 
who  had  taken  their  position  upon  the  high  bank  of 
the  Montmorency,  near  its  mouth ;  if  possible  con- 
quer them,  and  press  on  toward  Quebec.  This 
plan  was  adopted.  In  attempting  to  land  the  troops 
some  of  the  boats  got  aground  and  furnished  a  mark 
for  the  enemy,  who  threw  their  balls  and  shells 
wherever  they  could  produce  execution.  After  con- 
siderable difficulty  a  landing  was  effected.  A  re- 
doubt was  taken.  The  foremost  companies,  under 
the  excitement  of  the  occasion,  immediately  rushed 
forward  to  drive  the  French  from  their  intrench- 
ments.  This  ill-judged  movement  proved  disastrous ; 
for  they  were  received  with  unshrinking  firmness 
by  the  French,  who  poured  upon  them  such  a  well- 
directed  fire  as  to  throw  them  into  disorder  and 
oblige  them  to  retreat.  So  great  was  the  confusion 
produced  by  this  repulse  that  it  was  impossible  to 
form  these  men  into  line  again,  even  after  other 
regiments  had  arrived,  and  had  come  to  their  relief. 
A  thunder-storm  now  broke  upon  them,  which 
greatily  disheartened  the  English,  but  encouraged 
the  enemy.  The  newly-arrived  troops  were  brought 
into  line  with  great  promptness,  and  the  officers  dis- 
played unusual  courage,  and  many  of  them  fell  be- 
fore the  skillful  fire  of  the  French.  Not  satisfied 
19* 


222  A   PERILOUS   PROJECT. 

with  this,  the  enemy  continued  to  fire  upon  those 
who  had  fallen,  whether  they  were  wounded  or  dead. 
When  afterward  the  French  officers  were  remon- 
strated with  for  this  unnecessary  barbarity,  their 
apology  was,  that  this  mal-treatment  of  the  dying 
and  the  dead  proceeded  from  the  Canadians  and  the 
Indians,  whom  no  discipline  could  control.  This  en- 
gagement was  unfortunate  for  the  English.  General 
Wolfe,  convinced  that  at  the  present  time  discretion 
was  the  better  part  of  valor,  ordered  a  retreat  to 
the  Isle  of  Orleans,  but  not  till  nearly  five  hundred 
men  were  slain.  Wolfe  was  now  taken  down  with  dis- 
ease, and  his  generals  projected  a  plan  of  operations 
which  they  submitted  for  his  consideration.  It  would 
require  great  caution,  stillness,  tact,  self-possession, 
and  courage,  for  its  execution,  still,  under  favorable 
circumstances  it  might  prove  successful.  It  was  well 
adapted  to  the  romantic  and  adventurous  disposition 
of  Wolfe,  who  was  thirsting  for  some  opportunity 
to  pluck  from  the  hand  of  fame  a  wreath  of  glory. 
The  plan  was  to  distract  the  attention  of  the  enemy 
by  various  false  movements  up  the  river,  far  above 
the  town,  and  then,  under  the  cover  of  darkness,  to 
effect  a  landing  near  the  town,  climb  up  the  steep, 
precipitous  bank,  and  gain  the  Heights  of  Abraham 
before  the  French  should  discover  their  object. 
Although  Wolfe  was  unwell,  yet  his  piercing  glance 
had  discovered  a  small  cove  in  the  river,  from  which 


WOLFE   UNDAUNTED.  223 

a  narrow  path,  hardly  wide  enough  for  tfvoto  march 
abreast,  led  to  the  summit.  This  was  selected  as 
the  place  by  which  to  gain  the  coveted  eminence. 
It  was  an  enterprise  of  extreme  peril.  The  stream 
swept  down  past  the  cove  with  a  rapid  current; 
the  shore  was  shelving ;  the  bank  of  the  river  lined 
with  French  sentinels;  the  landing-place  so  narrow 
as  easily  to  be  missed  in  the  dark;  and  the  cliff, 
which  must  be  surmounted,  so  steep  that  it  was 
difficult  to  ascend  it  even  in  open,  day  and  without 
opposition.  Should  the  design  be  promulgated  by 
a  spy  or  deserter,  or  be  suspected  by  the  enemy ; 
should  the  disembarkation  be  disordered  through 
the  darkness  of  the  night,  or  the  obstructions  of  the 
shore ;  the  landing-place  be  mistaken,  or  one  senti- 
nel alarmed — the  Heights  of  Abraham  would  instant- 
ly be  covered  with  such  numbers  of  troops  as  would 
render  the  attempt  abortive,  and  defeat  inevitable." 
All  this  Wolfe  knew,  and  yet  in  view  of  it  all  he 
was  undaunted.  Believing  the  proverb  that  For- 
tune favors  the  brave,  and  saying  to  his  men  that 
"  A  victorious  army  knows  no  difficulties,"  he  re- 
solved to  make  the  attempt.  Accordingly  the  troops 
were  taken  on  board  the  vessels,  and  then  the  fleet 
sailed  several  leagues  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  as  if  with 
the  intention  of  landing  at  that  distance. 

Montcalm  dispatched  Bougainville  with  twelve 
or  fifteen  hundred  men  to  observe  their  movements, 


224          THE  PEOJECT  EXECUTED. 

and  prevent  them  from  reaching  the  shore.  Sev- 
eral pretended  attempts  were  made  by  the  English 
to  land.  On  the  12th  of  September,  about  an  hour 
after  midnight,  Wolfe,  and  about  half  his  army,  em- 
barked on  board  a  large  number  of  flat-boats  and 
proceeded  down  the  river.  No  sails  nor  oars  were 
allowed  to  be  used,  lest  they  should  lead  to  a  dis- 
covery. Gradually  and  cautiously  did  they  float 
down  with  the  current,  keeping  near  to  the  north- 
ern shore  of  the  river,  lest  they  should  pass  by  the 
narrow  cove  which  had  been  selected  as  their  land- 
ing-place. They  came  very  near  being  discovered. 
Most  of  the  sentinels  on  the  shore  did  not  observe 
them  ;  but  one  or  two  did,  and  hailed  them.  This 
was  a  perilous  moment.  If  it  became  known  that 
these  were  boats  loaded  with  English,  the  alarm 
would  be  given,  and  instantly  the  Heights  of  Abra- 
ham would  be  covered  with  the  French,  and  all 
landing  effectually  prevented  ;  the  enterprise  would 
prove  a  splendid  failure,  and  result  in  the  loss  of 
many  men.  All  this  was  escaped  by  the  presence 
of  mind  of  a  shrewd  Scotchman,  who,  when  they 
were  challenged  by  the  sentinels,  replied  that  they 
were  a  part  of  the  troops  of  Bougainville,  and 
were  employed  in  examining  the  condition  of  the 
river  and  watching  the  movements  of  the  English. 
This  was  satisfactory,  and  they  were  allowed  to 
proceed.  As  they  were  slowly  advancing  toward 


SCENE    AT   MIDNIGHT.  225 

their  object,  Wolfe  repeated,  in  a  low  tone  of  voice, 
yet  sufficiently  loud  for  his  officers  in  the  same  boat 
to  hear,  the  beautiful  "  Elegy  of  Gray  in  a  Coun- 
try Church-yard,"  which  had  been  recently  printed, 
and  which  he  had  received  by  the  last  mail  from 
England. 

Beneath  him  were  the  deep  black  waters  of  the 
St.  Lawrence,  flowing  onward  with  sullen  music  to- 
ward the  ocean  ;  around  him  were  scattered  hun- 
dreds of  boats,  filled  with  thousands  of  brave  hearts 
panting  for  the  achievements  of  to-morrow  ;  along 
the  shore  could  be  heard  the  regular  foot-falls  of  the 
pacing  sentinel,  while  here  and  there  were  seen  the 
glimmering  light  of  the  timid  or  vigilant  settler,  and 
over  all  was  the  dome  of  heaven,  dotted  with  innu- 
merable stars,  twinkling  in  their  remotest  depths 
as  if  they  were  the  eyes  of  legions  of  angels  gazing 
with  trembling  interest  upon  the  exciting  scene. 
Under  such  circumstances  the  suppressed  voice  of 
Wolfe  was  heard  repeating — 

"The  boast  of  heraldry,  the  pomp  of  power, 

And  all  that  beauty,  all  that  wealth  ere  gave, 
Await  alike  the  inexorable  hour; — 
The  paths  of  glory  lead  but  to  the  grave,"  etc. 

Having  finished  the  poem,  he  added,  in  low  but 
emphatic  tones,  "  Gentlemen,  I  would  rather  be  the 
author  of  that  poem  than  take  Quebec  to-morrow." 
10* 


226 


HEIGHTS    OF   ABRAHAM   GAiJNED. 


About  an  hour  before  the  dawn,  the  landing  was 
accomplished,  Wolfe  being  among  the  first  that 
leaped  on  shore.  When  he  looked  up  and  saw  the 
steep  height  to  be  ascended  before  success  could 
crown  their  enterprise,  he  said  to  an  officer,  "  I 
doubt  if  you  will  get  up ;  but  you  must  do  what 
you  can."  The  ships  which  had  been  left  behind 
arrived  soon  after. 


ASCENDING  THE  HEIGHTS  OF  ABRAHAM. 

Now  commenced  the  perilous  ascent.  The 
Scotch  Highlanders  under  Colonel  Howe  took  the 
lead,  and  were  followed  by  the  others  with  as 
much  caution  and  stillness  as  was  possible.  By 
clinging  to  the  branches  of  trees,  projecting  rocks, 


T>KEPAR4TIONS    FOB    BATTLE.  227 

and  roots  that  protruded  from  the  bank,  they  man- 
aged to  reach  the  top.  Here  a  little  firing  scattered 
the  sentinels,  and  when  the  sun  rose  above  the 
horizon,  its  rays  were  reflected  from  the  weapons 
of  the  whole  English  army.  The  Heights  of  Abra- 
ham were  successfully  gained.  When  the  intelli- 
gence was  conveyed  to  Montcalm,  he  could  not  be- 
lieve it  possible.  "It  can  be,"  said  he,  "but  a 
small  party  come  to  burn  a  few  houses  and  then 
retire." 

But  when  assured  that  the  whole  army  of  the 
British  had  gained  the  heights,  he  was  startled. 
"Then  they  have  finally  reached  the  weak  side  of 
this  miserable  garrison,"  said  he;  but,  nothing 
daunted,  he  immediately  added,  "  We  must  give 
battle,  and  crush  them  before  mid-day."  Fully 
realizing  the  peril  of  his  position,  and  the  immense 
interests  dependent  upon  his  movements,  he  at 
once  made  arrangements  for  an  engagement. 
Leaving  his  camp  at  Montmorency,  he  passed  over 
the  St.  Charles,  hastened  onward  to  the  Heights  of 
Abraham,  and  disposed  his  forces  in  order  of  bat- 
tle. Wolfe  was  soon  prepared  for  his  reception. 
The  comparative  strength  of  the  two  armies  was 
about  equal,  each  embracing  about  five  thousand 
men.  The  French  had  three  small  cannon,  the 
English  only  one  or  two.  The  two  commanders, 
personally,  took  their  positions  directly  opposite 


228  BATTLE    OF   QUEBEC. 

each  other,  Montcalm  being  on  the  left  of  the 
French  army,  and  Wolfe  on  the  right  of  the  En- 
glish ;  they  thus  confronted  each  other.  The  can- 
non of  the  two  armies  opened  their  fire  and  con- 
tinued sending  their  balls  with  more  or  less  effect 
for  two  hours.  An  attempt  was  made  by  a  portion 
of  the  French  troops  to  attack  the  English  upon 
the  side  of  their  line,  and  force  them  down  the  high 
bank  into  the  St.  Lawrence.  This  attempt  was 
frustrated  by  Wolfe,  who  sent  a  detachment  of  his 
soldiers  to  the  threatened  position,  where  they  were 
formed  with  a  double  front.  Montcalm  sent  for 
fresh  troops  to  come  to  his  aid,  but  his  ardent  dis- 
position could  not  wait  for  their  arrival.  He  rushed 
forward  with  his  soldiers,  and  attacked  the  English 
line  with  great  bravery.  They  were  received  with 
firmness.  When  Wolfe  saw  them  approaching,  he 
ordered  his  men  not  to  fire  till  the  French  were 
within  forty  yards  of  them.  They  then  poured  into 
them  a  rapid  discharge  of  small  arms,  with  fatal 
effect.  The  advance  of  the  French  was  checked, 
and  their  ardor  quenched,  by  the  galling  fire  to 
which  they  were  subjected.  They  soon  began  to 
waver.  Wolfe,  seizing  an  auspicious  moment  when 
the  French  companies  were  broken  and  irregular, 
ordered  his  soldiers  to  charge  them  with  fixed 
bayonets ;  they  obeyed.  They  dashed  upon  them 
with  great  impetuosity,  put  the  broken  troops  of 


WOLFE'S   DEATH   IN  VICTORY.  229 

Montcalm  to  flight  at  all  points,  and  forced  them  to 
retreat  in  a  disorderly  manner. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  action,  Wolfe  was  wound- 
ed in  the  wrist.  Wrapping  his  handkerchief  around 
his  arm,  he  continued  to  command  and  animate  his 
troops  till  he  received  another  wound  in  his  groin. 
Still  he  would  not  retire  from  the  field.  Conceal- 
ing his  misfortune  from  his  men,  he  led  his  grena- 
diers to  the  charge,  when  a  ball  struck  him  in  the 
breast,  and  laid  him  prostrate  upon  the  ground. 
He  was  immediately  carried  to  the  rear.  While 
being  supported  by  one  of  his  lieutenants,  he  heard 
the  cry,  "They  run,  they  run!"  "Who  run?" 
asked  the  dying  Wolfe.  "The  French,"  replied 
the  officer ;  "  they  have  given  way  at  all  points." 
"  What,"  said  the  expiring  general,  "  do  they  run 
already  ?"  After  sending  a  few  orders  to  his  officers 
to  make  arrangements  to  head  off  the  fugitives,  so 
that  they  might  not  escape,  he  added,  "  Now,  God 
be  praised,  I  die  happy ;"  and  soon  after  expired 
upon  the  field  of  victory.  Graham  says  of  Wolfe  : 
"  He  was  intensely  studious,  and  yet  promptly  and 
vigorously  active ;  heroically  brave  and  determined, 
adventurous  and  persevering ;  of  a  temper  lively 
and  even  impetuous,  yet  never  reproached  as  vio- 
lent and  irascible ;  generous,  indulgent,  courteous 
and  humane,  Wolfe  was  the  pattern  of  his  officers, 

and  the  idol  of  his  soldiers.     The  force  and  compass 
20 


230  CAPITULATION    OF    QUEBEC. 

of  his  genius  enabled  him  practically  to  distinguish, 
what  inferior  minds  never  discovered  at  all,  the  dif- 
ference between  great  difficulties  and  impossibilities ; 
and  being  undiscouraged  by  what  was  merely,  how- 
ever, mightily  difficult,  he  undertook  and  achieved 
what  others  would  have  accounted  and  found  to  be 
impossible." 

It  is  a  noteworthy  coincidence  that  Montcalm 
found  his  death  upon  the  same  field,  and  in  the 
same  conflict.  While  animating  his  soldiers  at  the 
head  of  his  battalion,  he  received  a  mortal  wound. 
When  informed  by  the  surgeon  that  he  could  not 
recover,  his  reply  was,  "  I  am  glad  of  it."  He  then 
asked,  "  How  long  shall  I  live  ?"  "  Ten  or  twelve 
hours ;  perhaps  less."  "  So  much  the  better,"  said 
he,  "  I  shall  not  live  to  witness  the  surrender  of 
Quebec."  When  De  Ramsay,  the  commander  01' 
the  garrison  of  Quebec,  consulted  him  respecting 
the  practicability  of  defending  the  city,  he  replied, 
"  To  your  keeping  I  commend  the  honor  of  France. 
As  for  me  I  shall  pass  the  night  with  God,  and  pre- 
pare myself  for  death."  About  five  o'clock  the 
next  morning  he  died.  In  a  few  days  (September 
17)  the  garrison  of  Quebec  capitulated.  The  En- 
glish immediately  took  possession  of  it,  and  found 
in  it  about  ten  thousand  persons  in  addition  to  the 
troops. 

By  the  terms  of  capitulation,  the  inhabitants  were 


A    FORTUNATE    EVENT.  231 

to  be  allowed  the  free  exercise  of  their  religion, 
during  the  continuance  of  the  war,  but  their  politi- 
cal disposition  was  left  to  be  decided  by  the  home 
governments  at  the  close  of  hostilities.  The  day 
after  the  capitulation,  a  thousand  prisoners  were 
sent  in  transports  to  Europe.  It  was  a  fortunate 
thing  for  the  English  that  Quebec  surrendered  so 
soon,  as  the  defeated  French  forces  had  rallied, 
had  received  reinforcements,  and  were  prepared  to 
tnrow  themselves  into  the  city  to  assist  the  garrison 
on  the  very  day  it  surrendered. 

It  was  not  long  after  the  Capitulation  of  Quebec 
before  Montreal  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English. 
By  this  series"  of  successful  engagements,  the  govern- 
ment of  Great  Britain  obtained  complete  possession 
of  Canada  which  she  has  retained  ever  since. 


CHAPTER    XX. 


Oppressive  Acts  of  Parliament— American  Opposition  to  them— Famous 
Stamp  Act— Its  Design— Its  Eftect  in  Maryland— The  Maryland 
Gazette— Treatment  of  Zechariah  Hood— Stamped  Taper  not  allowed  to 
be  landed — A  ridiculous  Ceremony — Hood  burnt  and  whipped  in  Effigy 
—Popular  Feeling  more  powerful  than  Government— The  Times  doleful 
and  dollar-less— Stamp  Act  repealed. 


AFTER  the  subjugation  of  Canada,  the  Parliament 
of  Great  Britain  adopted  various  injudicious  and 
unpopular  measures  toward  her  American  colonies. 
Without  allowing  them  the  right  of  sending  a  rep- 
resentative to  Parliament,  to  give  a  proper  state- 
ment of  their  condition,  and  to  vote  in  their  behalf, 
various  oppressive  acts  were  passed  that  only 
served  to  irritate  the  colonies  and  Avean  their  affec- 
tion from  the  mother  country.  Messages,  remon- 
strances, protests,  and  appeals  were  published  by 
the  colonists.  Numerous  exciting  meetings  were 
called,  at  which  their  grievances  were  discussed, 
and  measures  of  resistance  proposed.  During  these 
painful  collisions  between  England  and  her  Ameri- 
can dependencies,  which  prepared  the  way  for  the 
American  Revolution,  Maryland  uniformily  exhib- 


FAMOUS    STAMP   ACT.  233 

ited  a  bold  front  to  her  oppressors.  She  took  an 
early  and  a  decided  stand  against  the  unjust  en- 
croachments of  the  home  government.  A  memor- 
able instance  of  this  was  exhibited  in  her  opposition 
to  the  famous  Stamp  Act. 

This  was  an  act  making  it  obligatory  upon  the 
colonists  to  use  paper  having  the  king's  stamp  upon 
it,  in  the  ordinary  transactions  of  business.  If  a  re- 
ceipt, or  note,  or  any  other  important  business 
document  was  written  upon  paper  that  was  not 
stamped,  it  was  not  legal,  and  could  not  be  prose- 
cuted in  a  court  of  law.  If  this  paper  had  been  as 
cheap  as  any  other  kind,  the  law  requiring  its  use 
would  have  been  comparatively  harmless.  But  it 
was  not.  The  stamps  were  to  be  paid  for.  It  was 
a  measure  that  was  designed  to  increase  the  income 
of  the  British  treasury.  This  act  consisted  of  fifty- 
five  specific  duties,  laid  on  as  many  different  docu- 
ments recorded  on  paper.  Two  pounds  were  im- 
posed upon  a  college  diploma ;  for  a  license  to  sell 
wine,  twenty  shillings ;  for  a  deed,  one  shilling  and 
six  pence  ;  newspapers  were  taxed  a  penny  ;  pamph- 
lets, a  shilling  per  sheet ;  advertisements,  two  shil- 
lings, and  almanacs,  four  pence.  This  was  in  1765. 
When  intelligence  of  the  passage  of  this  act  reached 
America,  it  excited  deep  animosity.  Maryland  was 
not  behind  the  other  colonies  in  giving  expression 
to  the  most  decided  opposition.  The  Maryland 
20* 


234  STAMPED   PAPER   REJECTED. 

Gazette  was  converted  into  a  channel  through 
which  the  burning  indignation  of  the  people  found 
vent.  The  pungent  articles  which  there  appeared 
served  to  increase  and  give  permanency  to  the  de- 
testation of  the  community  against  this  tyrannical 
measure.  But  the  writing  of  newspaper  articles 
was  not  the  only  way  in  which  the  displeasure  of 
the  public  was  developed. 

On  the  27th  of  August,  1765,  a  meeting  was  held 
at  Annapolis,  to  show  the  abhorrence  of  the  people 
against  the  Stamp  Act,  and  the  measures  which  had 
been  adopted  to  circulate  the  stamped  paper  among 
the  community.  A  Mr.  Zechariah  Hood,  a  native 
of  the  province  of  Maryland,  who  had  been  to  Eng- 
land and  purchased  a  cargo  of  goods,  had  been  ap- 
pointed to  deliver  the  stamped  paper  in  the  province. 
When  this  fact  was  known,  and  also  that  he  had 
brought  with  him  a  quantity  of  the  obnoxious  paper 
for  distribution,  the  people  were  determined  that 
he  should  not  execute  his  mission,  and  that  the 
stamped  paper  should  not  be  landed.  When  the 
vessel  arrived  in  the  harbor  of  Annapolis,  they  rush- 
ed to  the  dock  in  crowds  to  prevent  Hood  from  dis- 
embarking. So  great  was  the  excitement  that  a 
fight  ensued,  and  one  of  the  crowd,  Thomas  McNier, 
had  his  thigh  broken.  Although  this  was  the  seat 
of  government,  so  little  influence  had  the  officers  of 
the  crown,  that  they  could  not  prevent  the  excited 


HOOD   PARADED   IN  EFFIGY. 


235 


populace  from  the  accomplishment  of  their  purpose. 
Hood  was  obliged  to  draw  off,  and  effect  a  landing 
secretly.  At  the  public  meeting,  which  was  called 
"  to  show  their  detestation  of,  and  abhorrence  to, 
some  late  tremendous  attacks  on  liberty  and  their 
dislike  to  a  certain  late  arrived  officer,  a  native  of 


HOOD   BIDING  IN   EFFIGY. 


this  province  !  they  curiously  dressed  up  the  figure 
of  a  man,  which  they  placed  in  a  one-horse  cart, 
malefactor  like,  with  some  sheets  of  paper  in  hia 
hands  before  his  face.  In  that  manner  they  paraded 


236  VIOLENT   INDIGNATION. 

through  the  streets  of  the  town,  till  noon,  the  bell 
at  the  same  time  tolling  a  solemn  knell,  when  they 
proceeded  to  the  hill,  and  after  giving  it  forty  lashes 
save  one,  which  they  called  giving  it  the  Mosaic 
law,  at  the  whipping-post,  placed  it  in  the  pillory, 
from  whence  they  took  it  and  hung  it  on  a  gibbet, 
there  erected  for  that  purpose,  and  set  fire  to  a  tar- 
barrel  underneath,  and  burned  it  till  it  fell  into  the 
barrel.  By  the  many  significant  nods  of  the  head, 
while  in  the  cart,  it  may  be  said  to  have  gone  off 
very  penitently."  Hood,  who  was  in  this  indignant 
manner  whipped,  pilloried,  hung  and  burned  in  effigy, 
found  that  Annapolis  was  a  poor  market  for  his 
cargo  of  merchandise.  The  people  would  not  trade 
with  him.  He  was  compelled  therefore  to  go  else- 
where, which  he  did  just  before  he  was  executed  in 
effigy.  In  his  haste  to  tlee  lie  left  behind  a  quantity 
of  tar  and  feathers  with  which  his  fellow- citizens  in- 
tended to  cover  him,  as  an  appropriate  reward  for 
the  zeal  he  had  displayed  in  the  execution  of  the 
Stamp  Act. 

So  violent  was  the  indignation  of  the  people  against 
this  measure  of  Parliament,  that  the  colonial  officers 
in  the  correspondence  with  their  home  government 
expressed  their  inability  to  see  it  executed.  As  a 
specimen  of  the  nature  of  this  correspondence,  the 
following  extract  of  a  letter  is  inserted.  It  is  from 
Governor  Sharpe  to  the  Earl  of  Halifax,  and  dated 


CEOWN    OFFICEES   PARALYZED.  237 

Annapolis,  5th  September,  1765.  After  giving  an 
account  of  the  treatment  of  Mr.  Hood,  he  says,  "  To 
what  length  people,  who  have  made  such  a  begin- 
ning, may  go  to  render  the  act  of  Parliament  inef- 
fectual, I  can  not  tell,  but  am  very  apprehensive 
that  if  the  stamped  paper  was  to  arrive  here  and  be 
landed  at  this  time,  it  would  not  be  in  my  power  to 
preserve  it  from  being  burned,  as  there  is  no  place  of 
security  here  wherein  it  might  be  lodged  ;  and  the 
militia  is  composed  of  such  as  are  by  no  means 
proper  to  be  appointed  a  guard  over  it ;  if  therefore 
a  vessel  should  soon  arrive  here  with  the  stamped 
paper,  I  shall  caution  the  master  against  landing  it, 
and  shall  advise  him  either  to  lie  off  at  a  distance 
from  the  shore,  or  return  to  the  men-of-war  station- 
ed in  Virginia  until  the  people  show  a  better  dis- 
position, or  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  receive  from 
your  Lordship  some  instructions  about  it."  This 
acknowledgment  of  weakness  on  the  part  of  the 
civil  authorities  is  additional  evidence  of  the  deep- 
seated  opposition  of  the  people  and  of  the  danger 
which  attended  the  enforcement  of  this  oppressive 
law. 

The  acts  of  Governor  Sharpe  were  in  harmony 
with  the  above  letter.  For  in  the  following  Decem- 
ber another  vessel  arrived  at  Annapolis,  having  on 
board  a  quantity  of  the  stamped  paper  for  the  pro- 
vince of  Maryland.  But  as  no  person  who  was 


238  TIMES   DOLEFUL   AND   DOLLARLESS. 

authorized  to  receive  and  distribute  it  was  there  to 
take  charge  of  it,  and  as  the  Lower  House  of  the 
provincial  Legislature  were  opposed  to  its  reception, 
it  was  never  landed.  Three  boxes  of  this  obnoxious 
paper  were  sent  back  to  England  by  Governor 
Sharpe  in  a  merchant  ship  the  same  month. 

It  is  the  proud  boast  of  Maryland  that  her  soil 
was  never  polluted  with  any  of  this  odious  paper — 
none  was  ever  landed  there. 

Among  other  modes  of  expressing  the  extreme 
regret  of  the  people  at  the  unpopular  measure,  a 
supplement  of  the  Maryland  Gazette  was  issued  in 
deep  mourning.  Rather  than  submit  to  the  "  intol- 
erable and  burdensome  terms,"  which  were  imposed 
on  all  newspapers,  the  editor  determined  to  discon- 
tinue printing  the  Gazette^  stating  in  a  quaint  alli- 
teration that 

The  times  are 

Dreadful, 

Dismal, 

Doleful, 

Dolorous, 

Dollarless. 

As  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  it  became  appar- 
ent that  the  Americans  would  not  submit  to  this 
unjust  measure  of  Parliament,  the  editor  issued  what 
was  termed  "  an  apparition  of  the  late  Maryland 
Gazette,"  and  resolved  to  republish  his  paper,  under 


STAMP   ACT    REPEALED.  239 

the  firm  conviction  that  the  government  would 
bo  unable  to  carry  into  effect  the  odious  Stamp 
Act.  Opposition  similar  to  that  of  Maryland 
was  exhibited  in  various  colonies.  As  it  was 
utterly  impossible  for  the  officers  of  the  king  to 
carry  the  stamp  act  into  execution,  it  was  soon 
repealed  by  Parliament.  This  gave  great  joy  to 
the  colonies.  The  repeal  was  everywhere  cele- 
brated with  the  firing  of  cannon,  bonfires,  illu- 
minations, and  various  other  demonstrations  of 
gladness. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

Arrival  of  a  New  Governor— Burning  of  Tea— The  Destruc- 
tion of  the  Totness — Naval  Engagement — Arrival  of  Lord 
Howe  —  Battle  of  Long  Island  —  Trenton  Taken  —  Prince- 
ton Seized  — The  Affair  of  Brandy  wine  —  Battle  of  Ger- 
mantown  —  Valley  Forge  —  Savannah  Attacked — Battle  of 
Carnden — Cowpens — Eutaw  Springs. 

As  the  treatment  of  the  colonies  by  the  mother 
country  was  so  harsh  and  arbitrary,  it  produced 
a  high  degree  of  excitement  throughout  the  com- 
munity. Events  which,  in  ordinary  times  would 
have  attracted  no  especial  attention,  now  awak- 
ened anxious  inquiry.  Hence,  when  on  the  fifth 
of  June,  1769,  a  ship  was  seen  entering  the  harbor 
of  Annapolis,  it  produced  no  little  commotion. 
Its  flags  indicated  that  it  had  on  board  some  dis- 
tinguished personage.  Who  can  it  be?  What 
has  he  come  for?  What  will  he  do?  Will  he 
take  sides  with  the  colonies  or  with  the  op- 
pressor? Presently  the  ship  dropped  her  an- 
chor, and  then  fired  a  salute  of  seven  guns.  As 
this  was  a  peaceful  demonstration,  it  was  replied 
to  by  an  equal  number.  It  was  now  ascertained 
that  the  distinguished  passengers  on  board  were 
Robert  Eden,  Esquire,  his  lady  and  family.  He 

240 


THE    NEW   GOVERNOR.  241 

had  been  appointed  by  the  home  government  to 
supercede  Sharpe  in  the  administration  of  the 
affairs  of  the  colony. 

When  this  new  Governor  landed  in  the  after- 
noon, all  the  members  of  the  council  then  in 
town,  and  a  large  number  of  the  citizens  met  him 
and  gave  him  a  formal  welcome.  In  addition  to 
this,  he  was  honored  by  a  discharge  of  all  the  can- 
non on  the  battery.  A  few  days  afterward,  at 
about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  he  entered  the 
council  house,  and  there  in  the  presence  of  his 
lordship's  honorable  council  and  the  officers  of  the 
colony,  the  credentials  of  his  appointment  were 
opened  and  read.  As  all  parties  were  satisfied 
with  the  legality  of  his  appointment,  it  was  pub- 
lished to  the  colony,  and  he  quietly  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  his  office.  But  he  found  the  admin- 
istration of  affairs  no  easy  task.  The  people  were 
so  opposed  to  the  measures  of  Great  Britain,  and 
the  British  Parliament  were  so  determined  to  re- 
duce them  to  subjection,  that  the  unfortunate 
Governor  found  himself  between  two  fires.  The 
state  of  things  was  bad  when  he  arrived,  but  they 
constantly  grew  worse,  making  his  condition 
more  and  more  trying.  But  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  1776,  when  the  United  Colonies  declared 
their  independence  of  Great  Britain,  and  when 
the  provisional  government  of  Maryland  was  es- 
tablished, he  acted  on  the  principle  that  "  Discre- 
tion is  the  better  part  of  valor,"  withdrew  from 


242  OPPOSITION   TO   IMPORTATION. 

the  country  and  returned  to- England.  He  is  said 
to  have  been  "  a  gentleman  easy  of  access,  cour- 
teous to  all,  and  fascinating  by  his  accomplish- 
ments." But  he  was  on  the  wrong  side,  and  not- 
withstanding his  courteous  and  fascinating  man- 
ners, he  was  an  obnoxious  tory,  a  sympathizer 
with  Great  Britain,  and  opposed  to  the  freedom 
of  the  colonies.  After  the  war  of  Revolution  was 
ended,  and  the  independence  of  the  colonies  was 
secured,  Eden  returned  to  Annapolis,  and  en- 
deavored to  seek  the  restitution  of  his  property. 
But  shortly  after  his  arrival  he  died.  His  place 
of  burial  was  under  the  pulpit  of  the  Episcopal 
church,  north  of  Severn,  and  within  some  two 
or  three  miles  of  Annapolis. 

England  had  been  in  the  habit  of  sending  to  the 
colonies  large  quantities  of  manufactured  goods, 
articles  of  luxury,  and  various  kinds  of  superflui- 
ties. They  found  here  a  large  market.  After  the 
breaking  out  of  the  difficulties  between  the  two 
countries,  measures  were  adopted  to  prevent  the 
importations  of  these.  In  this  movement  Mary- 
land took  an  active  part. 

In  June,  1769,  a  large  meeting  was  called  at  the 
city  of  Annapolis.  At  the  appointed  time  a  drum 
was  heard  in  the  street  calling  the  people  to  the 
meeting,  which  was  composed  not  only  of  the  cit- 
izens of  Annapolis,  but  of  gentlemen  of  the  several 
counties  of  the  Province,  who  formed  an  organi- 
zation to  prevent  the  importation  of  "British 


MEETING   AT  ANNAPOLIS.  243 

superfluities,  and  for  promoting  frugality,  econ- 
omy, and  the  use  of  American  manufactures." 
The  articles  of  agreement  which  they  adopted 
might  by  some  have  been  regarded  as  rather 
stringent.  Yet  at  this  meeting  it  was  "  Resolved, 
unanimously,  that  the  said  articles  be  most  strictly 
adhered  to,  and  preserved  inviolate ;  and  that 
each  and  every  gentlemen  present  at  this  meet- 
ing will  use  his  utmost  endeavors  to  those  lauda- 
ble ends." 

This  was  no  child's  play.  These  men  were  sin- 
cere and  earnest,  as  was  proved  by  the  following 
facts.  Next  February  the  British  brig,  Good 
Intent,  arrived  at  Annapolis,  laden  with  a  cargo 
of  British  goods.  As  soon  as  it  was  known,  a 
meeting  was  called,  at  which  a  committee  of 
three  were  appointed  to  investigate  the  matter. 
They  did  so,  and  reported  "  that  the  goods  were 
ordered  and  shipped  contrary  to  the  articles  of 
their  association,  and  ought  not  to  be  landed." 
This  was  taking  a  bold  stand.  But  the  commit- 
tee stuck  to  it,  the  public  sustained  them,  and  the 
result  of  their  firmness  was  that  the  brig  was 
compelled  to  return  to  London,  carrying  back  her 
cargo  of  European  goods,  to  the  value  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars.  The  correspondents  and  agents 
of  the  British  merchants  saw  by  these  movements 
how  utterly  useless  would  be  the  attempt  to  dis- 
pose of  English  goods  in  the  colony.  They  there- 
fore came  to  the  determination  "not  to  ship  in 


244  BRIG   PEGGY    STUAET. 

future  any  goods  to  Maryland  but  such  as  would 
be  agreeable  to  the  association." 

Another  incident  involving  similar  principles 
and  action  was  connected  with  the  brig  Peggy 
Stuart.  This  vessel  arrived  at  Annapolis  on  the 
fifteenth  of  October,  1774,  having  on  board  two 
thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  of 
tea  consigned  to  Thomas  Charles  Williams  and 
Company.  So  soon  as  this  was  known,  a  great 
excitement  ensued,  and  a  large  public  meeting 
was  held.  After  the  matter  was  examined  it  was 
ascertained  "that  the  Messrs.  Williams  had,  on 
this  occasion,  imported  a  larger  quantity  of  that 
detestable  plant,  as  it  was  then  termed,  than  by  any 
former  opportunity;  and  that  Mr.  Anthony  Stew- 
art, the  proprietor  of  the  vessel,  had  paid  the 
duties  thereon,  though  he  was  not  in  any  manner 
concerned  in  the  shipment  of  the  tea.  This  being 
deemed  a  submission  to  the  contested  claim  of  the 
British  Parliament,  very  severe  censures  were 
passed  on  the  parties  concerned,  and  a  general 
spirit  of  resentment  appears  to  have  predom- 
inated." 

Another  meeting  was  appointed  to  consider  the 
important  questions,  How  shall  we  act  in  this 
emergency,  and  What  shall  be  done  with  the  tea  ? 
It  was  determined  to  prevent  the  landing  of  the 
tea.  The  importers  of  the  "detestable  plant,'" 
and  the  officers  of  the  vessel  gave  public  explana- 
tions of  their  conduct,  in  order  to  mollify  the  in- 


CARGO   OF   TEA.  245 

dignation  which  had  been  aroused.  The  document 
of  Stewart  and  the  Williams'  is  of  so  remarkable 
a  character,  that  we  insert  it  here  entire.  Noth- 
ing but  a  high  state  of  public  excitement  and  a 
sense  of  great  personal  danger,  would  have  in- 
duced these  gentlemen  to  send  forth  such  an 
humbling  and  penitential  paper  as  this :  — 

"We,  James  Williams,  Joseph  Williams,  and 
Anthony  Stewart,  do  severally  acknowledge  that 
we  have  committed  a  most  daring  insult  and  act 
of  the  most  pernicious  tendency  to  the  liberties  of 
America;  we,  the  said  Williams',  in  importing 
the  tea,  and  said  Stewart,  in  paying  the  duties 
thereon,  and  thereby  deservedly  incurred  the 
displeasure  of  the  people  now  convened,  and  all 
others  interested  in  the  preservation  of  the  con- 
stitutional rights  and  liberties  of  North  America, 
do  ask  pardon  for  the  same;  and  we  solemnly 
declare  for  the  future,  that  we  will  never  infringe 
any  resolution  formed  by  the  people,  for  the  sal- 
vation of  the  people,  and  to  show  our  desire  of 
living  in  amity  with  the  friends  of  America,  we 
request  this  meeting,  or  as  many  as  may  choose  to 
attend,  to  be  present  at  any  place  where  the 
people  shall  appoint,  and  we  will  there  commit  to 
the  flames,  or  otherwise  destroy,  as  the  people 
may  choose,  the  detestable  article,  which  has  been 
the  cause  of  this,  our  misconduct."  This  was 
signed  by  the  three  offenders.  But  even  this 
penitential  confession  and  promise  of  amend- 


246  BURNING    OF    TEA. 

ment,  was  not  satisfactory  to  all ;  for  Stewart  had 
made  himself  so  offensive  by  what  was  deemed 
bis  too  great  readiness  to  pay  the  duties,  that 
some  were  anxious  to  clothe  him  in  a  coat  of  tar 
and  feathers,  whilst  others  demanded  the  de- 
struction of  the  brig,  but  a  third  party  said  that 
the  confession  of  the  offenders  with  their  unex- 
torted  proposition  to  commit  the  tea  to  the  flames, 
was  sufficient  punishment  and  satisfaction.  Fi- 
nally, Stewart  was  induced,  especially  through  the 
advice  of  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  to  offer 
to  set  fire  to  the  vessel  himself.  This  proposition 
being  received  with  favor,  Stewart  immediately 
went  on  board  the  brig,  ordered  her  to  be  run 
aground  near  Wind  Mill  Point,  where  he  applied 
to  her  the  torch,  and  soon  converted  her  into  a 
whole  burnt  offering  upon  the  altar  of  American 
Liberty.  The  vessel  with  all  her  cordage,  spars, 
sails  and  cargo,  was  converted  to  ashes. 

This  was  not  the  only  instance  in  which  the  in- 
dignation of  the  people  was  exhibited  towards 
this  offensive  article.  In  the  winter  of  1774,  it 
was  discovered  that  John  Parks  had  a  chest  of  it. 
When  this  became  known  another  excitement  was 
created.  A  committee  waited  upon  Mr.  Parks, 
and  demanded  of  him  that  he  give  up  the  tea. 
He  consented  to  deliver  it  on  a  certain  day.  At 
the  appointed  time  a  meeting  was  held  for  its  re- 
ception in  Elizabeth  Town  (now  Flagerstown). 
The  committee  in  their  report  accused  Parks  of 


MOKE    TEA  BUKNING.  247 

falsehood,  but  after  carefully  considering  the  sub- 
ject they  finally  decided  "  That  John  Parks  should 
go  with  his  hat  off,  and  lighted  torches  in  his  hand, 
and  set  fire  to  the  tea,  which  he  accordingly  did, 
and  the  same  was  consumed  to  ashes  amid  the  ac- 
clamations of  a  numerous  body  of  people"  The 
committee  also  expressed  the  opinion  that  no  one 
ought  to  have  any  intercourse  with  Parks,  and  all 
the  friends  of  Liberty  were  requested  to  shun 
him.  This,  however,  was  not  severe  enough  to 
satisfy  all.  There  were  those  who  thought  a 
heavier  punishment  ought  to  have  been  inflicted, 
and  they  could  not  be  satisfied  until  they  had  as- 
saulted his  house,  breaking  in  the  windows  and 
clashing  down  the  door. 

These  tea-burnings  in  Maryland,  viewed  as 
exhibitions  of  the  love  of  Liberty,  of  determina- 
tion to  resist  the  usurpations  of  Great  Britain, 
and  of  self-denial  in  the  defense  of  colonial 
rights,  are  worthy  of  being  recorded  on  the  same 
page  with  the  destruction  of  the  tea  in  Boston 
harbor.  In  some  respects  the  Marylanders  dif- 
fered widely  in  their  mode  of  operation  from  the 
Bostonians.  Everything  which  they  did  was 
open.  There  were  no  secret  meetings,  no  decep- 
tion, no  disguise.  Their  discussions  upon  the 
subject  were  public.  The  men  who  presided  and 
those  who  took  part  in  the  proceedings,  were 
willing  to  be  known,  and  instead  of  assuming  the 
appearance  of  Indians  and  destroying  the  tea 


248  BURNING   OF    THE    TOT/NESS. 

secretly,  they  publicly  appointed  the  importers 
and  the  owners  of  it  to  apply  the  torch  whilst 
they  openly  aided  in  the  mutter.  They  were 
willing  to  assume  the  whole  responsibility. 

Another  incident,  involving  similar  principles 
as  those  developed  in  the  burning  of  the  tea,  was 
the  following:  —  The  ship  Totness,  Captain  Hard- 
ing, on  her  voyage  from  Liverpool  to  Baltimore, 
in  coming  up  the  bay,  unfortunately  ran  aground, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  Three  Islands,  at  the  mouth 
of  West  River.  When  information  of  this  acci- 
dent was  communicated  to  the  committee,  they 
immediately  called  a  meeting,  and  considered 
what  course  should  be  pursued.  It  was  ascer- 
tained that  the  cargo  consisted  of  salt  and  dry 
goods.  After  deliberation  the  committee  decided 
to  allow  her  to  proceed  to  Baltimore.  When 
this  became  known  to  the  public  it  met  with 
strong  opposition.  They  regarded  it  as  a  flagrant 
infringement  of  the  principles  adopted  by  the 
continental  association,  and  were  determined  that 
it  should  not  be  carried  into  effect.  They  would 
not  allow  British  manufactures  to  be  entered  at 
the  custom  house.  Excitement  ran  high,  until 
finally  a  number  of  the  more  determined  and 
earnest  ones  cut  the  controversy  short  by  going 
on  board  the  obnoxious  vessel  and  setting  her  on 
fire! 

ISTot  only  were  the  Marylanders  determined  to 
bum  offensive  merchant  vessels  that  might  enter 


EXCITEMENT    AND    INDIGNATION.  249 

her  harbors,  but  they  were  ready  also  to  attack 
naval  ones  when  the  occasion  offered. 

On  the  fifth  of  March,  1776,  intelligence 
reached  Annapolis  that  a  British  man-of-war, 
accompanied  by  two  other  vessels,  was  coming  up 
the  Bay.  It  was  also  stated  that  they  had  cap- 
tured a  New  England  schooner.  All  this  was 
startling  news.  In  a  few  hours  she  could  be  be- 
fore Annapolis  and  bombard  the  city.  The  whole 
community  were  in  commotion.  Swift  expresses 
were  sent  to  Baltimore  and  other  places,  to  give 
the  alarming  information.  Providentially  a  storm 
arose,  which  hindered  the  progress  of  the  vessels, 
so  that,  although  the  news  of  their  approach  was 
received  on  Tuesday,  it  was  not  until  Thursday 
afternoon  that  they  arrived  opposite  the  city. 
In  the  mouth  of  the  harbor  was  a  small  vessel 
ladened  with  oats.  This  they  seized,  as  they 
came  up,  and  set  on  fire.  Its  destruction  in- 
creased the  excitement  and  indignation  of  the 
colonists,  and  they  prepared,  as  well  as  they 
were  able,  for  the  reception  of  the  unwelcome 
visitors,  who  proved  to  be  the  sloop-of-war,  Otter, 
and  two  tenders.  Another  large  vessel  in  their 
company  was  an  American  ship,  commanded  by 
Captain  Hudson,  loaded  with  wheat  and  flour, 
which  the  Otter  had  seized  as  a  prize.  At  Balti- 
more was  the  ship  Defence,  and  the  general  im- 
pression of  the  people  was  that  the  Otter  was 
going  there  to  cut  it  out  of  the  harbor,  but  if  this 


250         RECAPTUKE  OF  VESSELS. 

were  impossible,  then  to  destroy  it.  The  Balti- 
moreans  having  received  information  of  the 
movements  of  the  Otter,  immediately  got  the 
Defence  ready  for  action;  manned  her  with  a 
crew  of  brave  hearts,  throbbing  with  a  desire  for 
an  opportunity  to  test  their  courage  and  their 
skill  in  an  engagement  with  the  enemy,  and  then 
towed  her  down  the  river,  accompanied  by  sev- 
eral smaller  crafts,  filled  with  men  ready  to  assist 
in  the  conflict,  if  any  should  occur.  It  was  the 
plan  of  Captain  Nicholson,  of  the  Defence,  to  re- 
take Hudson's  vessel  from  the  tenders,  which 
were  protecting  it,  and  if  the  Otter  made  any  at- 
tempt to  prevent  this,  then  to  attack  her.  He 
got  away  early  on  Saturday  morning,  and  as  the 
weather  was  thick  and  hazy,  the  Defence  got 
much  nearer  to  them  before  discovery  than  they 
had  hoped  for.  So  soon  as  the  crew  of  the 
tenders  discovered  her  approach,  they  appeared 
greatly  alarmed,  and  pushed  off  with  the  greatest 
haste,  but  finding  themselves  making  slow  prog- 
ress, they  gave  a  signal  to  the  Otter  for  help,  who 
immediately  sent  them  more  hands  to  aid  in 
rowing  them  from  danger.  Captain  Nicholson 
succeeded  not  only  in  recapturing  Hudson's  ship, 
but  also  in  taking  three  or  four  other  small 
prizes,  which  were  under  the  protection  of  the 
tenders.  After  these  successes,  and  after  man- 
ning Hudson's  ship,  he  prepared  the  Defence  for 
action  with  the  Otter,  and  waited  for  her  to  come 


PKEPAEING  FOR   WAR.  251 

to  the  attack,  as  he  expected  she  would.  But  she 
did  not  come.  She  waited  farther  down  the 
Bay,  some  two  hours,  as  if  expecting  the  Defence 
to  move  down  to  her,  and  then  bore  away  to 
Annapolis,  leaving  Nicholson  in  the  unmolested 
possession  of  his  prizes,  and  master  of  the  situa- 
tion. 

The  war  between  Great  Britian  and  America 
was  now  in  full  blast.  The  whole  of  the  thirteen 
colonies  were  aroused,  and  had  united  in  one  com- 
mon cause.  In  Maryland,  as  in  the  other  prov- 
inces, great  meetings  had  been  called,  spirited, 
patriotic  and  soul-stirring  addresses  had  been  de- 
livered, and  had  been  received  with  the  heartiest 
applause.  Recruiting  offices  had  been  opened  in 
the  different  cities  and  towns,  and  large  numbers 
of  the  young  and  the  brave  had  enlisted  for  the 
defence  of  their  liberties  and  their  rights.  They 
were  not  allowed  to  remain  long  in  their  camps. 
In  July,  1776,  intelligence  reached  Maryland  from 
Philadelphia,  of  the  following  purport:  "General 
Howe  has.  landed  a  great  body  of  troops  on 
Staten  Island.  *  *  *  The  battalions  of  our 
city  (every  one  of  them)  are  marching  to  Trenton 
and  Brunswick  in  the  Jerseys.  *  *  *  It  is 
expected  that  the  lower  counties  and  Maryland 
will  immediately  march  their  quotas  of  militia,  to 
compose  the  flying  camp,  (under  the  command  of 
General  Washington)  to  this  city,  to  defend  it  in 
the  absence  of  its  own  battalion.  -Your  hour  of 


252  A  BATTLE   FOTTGHT. 

trial  is  come,  your  plighted  faith,  your 
honor,  the  love  of  your  country,  and  its  dearest 
liberties,  in  this  moment  of  imminent  danger,  de- 
mand that  you  instantly  fly  to  the  assistance  of  a 
sister  colony." 

Another  letter  said :  "An  express  has  just  ar- 
rived from  General  Washington.  Howe's  army 
consists  of  ten  thousand  men.  Admiral  Howe  is 
hourly  expected  with  a  hundred  and  fifty  sail, 
having  on  board  twenty  thousand  troops.  The 
enemy's  grand  army  will  consist  of  thirty  thou- 
sand. The  whole  militia  of  this  province  is 
ordered  to  the  Jerseys.  We  are  in  anxious  ex- 
pectation to  hear  from  Maryland,  nor  can  we  for 
a  moment  entertain  a  doubt,  that  our  brethren 
will  not  desert  us  in  the  hour  of  our  distress.  The 
farmers  here  have  left  their  harvest,  and  cast  away 
the  scythe  for  the  musket.  I  should  rejoice  to 
hear  you  have  imitated  such  an  example." 

The  Marylanders  did  imitate  this  glorious  ex- 
ample. In  August  of  this  year  an  important 
battle  was  fought  on  the  southern  part  of  Long 
Island,  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York.  The  British 
had  landed  some  twenty-four  thousand  troops  at 
Grass  End  Bay.  The  army  of  the  Americans, 
consisting  of  fifteen  thousand  men,  were  assem- 
bled at  the  Wallobout,  an  expansion  of  the  East 
River,  between  New  York  and  Long  Island,  just 
above  Brooklyn.  When  the  two  armies  were 
arranged  in  order  of  battle,  they  were  on  oppo- 


THE   AMERICANS   DEFEATED.  253 

site  sides  of  a  range  of  hills,  covered  with  a  thick 
wood.  The  Americans  were  commanded  by 
Washington,  and  the  British  by  Howe.  Both 
sides  fought  with  great  courage  and  skill.  Dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  battle,  the  British  managed 
to  turn  the  left  flank  of  their  opponents,  by 
throwing  a  portion  of  their  army  in  the  rear  of  the 
Americans.  This  brought  that  portion  of  the 
Americans  between  two  fires,  which  soon  de- 
feated them.  The  other  divisions  were  equally 
unsuccessful,  so  that  after  a  bloody  day's  work, 
the  Americans  were  defeated,  and  the  English 
left  masters  of  the  field.  Lossing  says  that  the 
whole  number  actively  engaged  on  this  occasion 
was  about  five  thousand  Americans,  and  fifteen 
thousand  of  the  enemy.  Admitting  that  there 
were  three  to  one,  it  is  not  surprising  that  the 
British  conquered,  neither  was  it  a  victory  that 
justified  great  boasting.  Yet  on  account  of  it 
the  King  of  England  conferred  the  honor  of 
knighthood  on  the  British  commander,  so  that 
he  became  Sir  William  Howe.  The  British  loss 
in  this  engagement  was  about  four  hundred,  and 
that  of  the  Americans  twelve  hundred,  including 
about  a  thousand  who  were  taken  prisoners. 

The  part  which  the  Marylanders  took  in  this 
engagement,  and  their  conduct  on  the  occasion, 
is  shown  in  the  following  extracts  from  letters 
written  immediately  after  the  conflict:  "New 
York,  August  27,  1776.  I  sit  down  in  the  midst 


254      BRAVERY  OP  AMERICAN  TROOPS. 

of  confusion  to  tell  you  that  our  people  have  been 
engaged  with  the  enemy  on  Long  Island,  all  this 
morning,  and  are  at  it  yet;  we  cannot  get  par- 
ticulars. 

"  ?.  S.  The  first  battalion  of  New  York,  Col- 
onel Lasher,  and  the  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland 
battalions  behaved  with  the  greatest  bravery,  even 
to  a  fault.  They  were  commanded  by  Lord 
Stirling.  We  forced  the  enemy  into  their  lines." 

"PHILADELPHIA,  AUGUST  31. 

"  You  will  no  doubt  be  very  anxious  to  receive 
a  particular  account  of  the  late  engagement  be- 
tween our  troops  and  the  enemy  on  Long  Island. 
Small-wood's  battalion  of  Marylandcrs  were  dis- 
tinguished in  the  field  by  the  most  intrepid 
courage,  the  most  regular  use  of  the  musket,  and 
judicious  movements  of  the  body.  When  our 
party  was  overpowered  and  broken  by  superior 
numbers  surrounding  them  on  all  sides,  three 
companies  of  the  Maryland  battalion  broke  the 
enemy's  lines  and  fought  their  way  through. 
Captain  Veasey  and  Lieutenant  Butler  are  among 
the  honorable  slain.  The  Maryland  battalion  lost 
two  hundred  men  and  twelve  officers  —  severe 
fate.  It  is  said  our  whole  loss  is  five  or  six  hun- 
dred." 

Another  letter  from  New  York,  September  1st, 
states,  "Last  Monday  morning  we  went  over  to 
Long  Island,  and  about  midnight  we  were 


WASHINGTON   CROSSES   THE   DELAWARE.      255 

alarmed.  Upon  which  three  thousand  men  were 
ordered  oat,  consisting  chiefly  of  the  Pennsylvania 
and  Maryland  troops.  *  *  Our  orders  were 
not  to  lire  until  the  enemy  came  within  fifty  yards 
of  us,  but  when  they  perceived  we  stood  their  fire 
so  coolly  and  resolutely,  they  declined  coming 
any  nearer,  though  treble  our  number.  In  this 
situation  we  stood  from  sunrise  to  twelve  o'clock, 
the  enemy  firing  upon  us  the  chief  part  of  the 
time,  when  the  main  body,  by  a  rout  we  never 
dreamed  of,  had  entirely  surrounded  us,  and  drove 
within  the  lines,  or  scattered  in  the  woods,  all 
our  men  except  the  Delaware  and  Maryland 
battalions,  who  were  standing  at  bay  with  double 
their  number,  broke  the  enemy's  lines  and  forced 
their  way  through.  *  *  *  When  they  began 
the  attack,  General  Washington  wrung  his  hands, 
and  cried  out,  '  Good  God!  what  brave  fellows  I 
must  this  day  lose".  " 

After  the  battles  on  Long  Island  and  at  White 
Plains,  General  Washington  retreated  with  his 
army  into  New  Jersey.  He  successfully  crossed 
the  Delaware  and  established  some  of  his  troops 
in  Philadelphia.  The  British,  with  some  fifteen 
hundred  Hessians,  were  at  Trenton.  Other 
smaller  detachments  occupied  Bordentown,  Bur- 
lington, Black  Horse  and  Mount  Holley.  When 
General  Washington  received  information  of  the 
scattered  condition  of  the  enemy,  he  said,  "Now 
is  the  time  to  clip  their  wings,  they  are  so  spread." 


256  ATTACK   ON   TRENTON. 

He  determined  to  recross  the  Delaware,  and  at- 
tack the  Hessians  at  Trenton.  His  plan  was  to 
break  his  army  into  three  divisions,  put  one  under 
General  Cadwallader,  another  under  General 
Ewing,  and  reserve  the  third  for  himself.  These 
divisions  were  to  cross  the  river  at  different 
points.  As  it  was  winter,  and  a  great  amount  of 
floating  ice  was  in  the  river,  the  divisions  of  Cad- 
wallader and  Ewing  were  unable  to  cross.  Wash- 
ington alone  was  successful.  It  was  the  night 
of  the  twenty-fifth  of  December.  Washington 
had  hoped  to  -have  gotten  across  by  midnight, 
but  the  severe  cold  weather  and  the  numerous 
blocks  of  floating  ice  created  delay,  so  that  he  did 
not  get  his  troops  over  until  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  At  four  they  commenced  their  march. 
Colonel  Rahl,  who  commanded  the  Hessians  at 
Trenton,  had  received  information  that  he  would 
probably  be  attacked  on  Christmas  night.  He 
had  therefore  made  preparations  for  the  reception 
of  the  Americans.  Now  it  so  happened  that 
Captain  Washington  (not  the  General)  had  been 
for  some  days  on  a  scouting  party  in  the  Jerseys, 
with  a  company  of  fifty  soldiers  on  foot.  He 
knew  nothing  of  the  GeneraFs  contemplated 
attack  on  Trenton.  So  he  approached  it  him- 
self, met  the  pickets,  exchanged  a  few  shots,  and 
then  retreated.  The  Hessians  supposed  that  this 
was  the  threatened  attack,  and  after  the  invaders 
retreated  they  felt  secure.  Captain  Washington 


SURRENDER   OF    THE    HESSIANS. 

happened  to  retreat  by  the  very  way  along  which 
the  General  was  coming  towards  Trenton.  When 
they  met,  he  joined  his  force  with  that  of  the 
conimander-in-chief.  At  first  it  was  feared  that 
the  Captain's  visit  might  have  put  the  Hessians 
on  their  guard,  but  as  the  Delaware  was  crossed, 
and  the  army  had  come  for  the  very  purpose  of 
attack,  it  was  determined  to  press  on  without 
delay.  The  night  was  intensely  cold,  accom- 
panied with  sleet,  snow,  and  slippery  roads.  The 
army  was  formed  into  two  divisions,  one  com- 
manded by  General  Sullivan,  the  other  by  Gen- 
eral Green.  General  Washington  was  with  the 
latter.  They  reached  Trenton  about  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  immediately  attacked  the 
city  at  two  different  points  at  the  same  moment. 
The  Hessians,  after  a  slight  resistance,  attempted 
to  retreat  to  Princeton,  but  were  prevented  by 
the  Americans.  Finding  themselves  surrounded, 
they  were  obliged  to  surrender  themselves  pris- 
oners of  war.  The  casualties  of  the  engagement 
consisted  of  between  thirty  and  forty  Hessians 
killed,  including  Colonel  Rahl,  their  commander. 
Of  the  Americans  only  ten  were  killed  and 
wounded.  The  advantages  gained  were  nearly  a 
thousand  prisoners,  Hessians,  six  brass  cannon,  a 
thousand  stand  of  arms  and  a  considerable  quan- 
tity of  ammunition.  This  sudden  and  brilliant 
victory  was  a  great  surprise  to  the  British,  and  a 
great  encouragement  to  the  colonists,  who  had 
17 


1  Become  despondent  on  account  of  the  ill-success 
of  their  arms.  It  showed  two  important  things 
—  first,  that  the  tide  of  victory  was  turning,  and 
second,  that  the  Hessians  were  not  the  terrible 
and  invincible  foes  which  they  had  been  described 
to  be.  Though  at  that  time  Philadelphia  was 
held  by  the  Americans,  many  of  the  citizens  sym- 
pathized with  the  British,  and  hoped  they  would 
succeed  in  suppressing  Avhat  was  called  the 
American  rebellion.  This  party  denied  that  the 
Hessians  had  been  conquered.  Washington  there- 
fore had  the  prisoners  taken  to  Philadelphia,  and 
marched  through  the  streets,  that  friends  and  foes 
might  have  visible  evidence  of  the  reality  and  ex- 
tent of  the  victory. 

A  week  after  the  capture  of  the  Hessians, 
Washington's  force  was  increased  by  the  addition 
of  those  of  Generals  Mifflin  and  Cadwallader, 
making  the  whole  number  about  five  thousand 
men.  Lord  Cornwallis  was  at  Princeton.  Know- 
ing that  Washington  remained  at  Trenton,  he 
collected  his  army,  and  moved  towards  him. 
Washington  moved  his  force  across  the  Assump- 
nick  Creek,  which  ran  through  the  town,  arid 
erected  entrenchments  and  barriers  for  his  protcc~ 
tion.  The  attempt  of  the  British  to  cross  tho 
Creek  was  met  with  strong  opposition.  Corn- 
wallis, finding  all  tho  passes  strongly  guarded, 
concluded  to  wait  for  reinforcements  till  next 
day,  before  commencing  a  general  engagement. 


AN  ENGAGEMENT.  259 

Washington,  believing  that  in  view  of  the  strong 
force  of  the  enemy,  a  battle  would  be  hazardous, 
and  that,  in  case  of  defeat,  he  would  be  unable  to 
take  his  retreating  array  safely  across  the  Dela- 
ware, still  filled  with  floating  cakes  of  ice,  he  re- 
solved upon  another  course.  After  dark,  and 
when  the  enemy  were  asleep,  he  quietly  drew  off 
his  forces  from  Trenton,  leaving  only  a  few  men 
working  with  pickaxes,  and  a  few  fires  burning, 
to  give  the  enemy's  sentinels  the  impression  that 
they  were  still  there,  and  engaged  in  measures  for 
their  protection.  About  dawn  these  few  men 
left,  and  hastily  followed  after  the  retiring  army, 
which  was  rapidly  inarching  towards  Princeton, 
with  the  intention  of  defeating  the  force  which 
Cornwallis  had  left  there,  and  then  hastening  to 
New  Brunswick  and  capturing  the  large  quantity 
of  military  stores  which  the  English  had  col- 
lected at  that  place.  On  his  way  to  Princeton, 
Washington  met  two  regiments,  which  Cornwallis 
had  ordered  to  join  him  at  Trenton.  This  was 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Princeton.  An 
engagement  at  once  began.  The  British  com- 
mander sent  back  to  Princeton  for  another  regi- 
ment, which  soon  came  up.  After  fighting  about 
an  hour,  the  American  militia  became  frightened, 
and  fell  back  in  great  confusion.  General  Mercer 
strove  hard  to  rally  them,  and  in  so  doing  re- 
ceived from  the  enemy  a  fatal  wound.  The 
British  DOW  charged  with  fixed  bayonets.  Wash- 


260  BRITISH    TAKEN   PRISONERS. 

ington,  seeing  that  the  van  of  his  army  were 
being  driven  back,  immediately  brought  up  the 
main  body  and  attacked  the  enemy  with  great 
spirit.  He  was  well  sustained  by  the  soldiers 
who  had  aided  him  in  taking  Trenton  a  week 
before,  who  fought  with  such  bravery  that  they 
succeeded  in  reaching  Princeton,  driving  the 
enemy  before  them,  one  party  of  whom  fled  to  the 
college,  but  after  receiving  a  few  discharges  of 
cannon,  came  out  and  delivered  themselves  up  as 
prisoners  of  war.  The  majority  of  those  who  had 
been  left,  or  been  driven  there,  made  a  rapid  re- 
treat towards  New  Brunswick.  About  one  hun- 
dred of  the  British  were  killed,  and  three  hundred 
taken  prisoners.  The  Americans  lost  about  a 
hundred. 

When  the  day  broke  at  Trenton,  Comwallis 
and  his  army  were  greatly  surprised  to  find  no 
enemy  in  front  of  them.  Believing  that  the  cap- 
ture of  the  stores  at  New  Brunswick  was  their 
object,  he  at  once  pursued  them.  His  van  arrived 
at  Princeton  about  the  same  time  that  the  rear- 
guard of  the  Americans  did.  This  placed  "Wash- 
ington in  a  critical  position.  For  two  days  his 
soldiers  had  had  no  rest.  They  were  so  ex- 
hausted that  after  the  battle  at  Princeton,  many 
of  them  actually  fell  down  overpowered  for  want 
of  sleep.  Washington  knew  that  they  were  in  no 
state  to  fight  another  battle :  he  therefore  relin- 
quished the  idea  of  pressing  to  New  Brunswick, 
and  retreated  northwardly,  to  Morristown. 


BATTLE    OF   BKANDYWINE.  261 

On  the  eleventh  of  September  the  two  armies 
met  again  by  the  river  Brandywine. 

The  British  troops  were  under  the  direction  of 
Howe,  Cornwallis,  and  Knyphausen,  whilst  the 
Americans  were  commanded  by  Washington, 
Sullivan  and  Armstrong.  The  battle  was  opened 
by  an  attack  upon  the  division  of  Knyphausen, 
which  was  unsuccessful.  The  object  of  Knyphau- 
sen was  to  keep  the  Americans  engaged  so  as  to 
give  Cornwallis  an  opportunity  of  turning  their 
flank,  and  getting  in  their  rear  without  being  dis- 
covered. Washington  suspected  this  manoeuvre, 
and  sent  patrols  in  that  direction  to  ascertain  the 
facts.  A  message  from  Gen.  Sullivan  informed 
him  that  a  large  number  of  the  British  were 
crossing  the  Brandywine.  Washington  ordered 
Sullivan  to  attack  them  at  once,  whilst  he  would 
treat  Knyphausen  in  the  same  manner.  But 
nothing  was  accomplished.  The  movements  of 
Cornwallis  had  been  made  so  early,  secretly  and 
swiftly,  that  he  succeeded  in  gaining  a  command- 
ing height  within  two  miles  of  Sullivan's  flank. 
So  soon  as  Sullivan  saw  the  red  coats  crowning 
the  hill,  he  commenced  making  arrangements  to 
attack  them,  but  before  they  were  completed, 
the  troops  of  Cornwallis  bore  down  upon  him 
with  great  fury,  broke  his  line,  threw  all  the  rest 
into  confusion,  and  drove  them  from  the  field. 

So  soon  as  Knyphausen  heard  the  firing  in  that 
direction,  and  knowing  that  it  indicated  the  suo- 


262         LAFAYETTE    AND    PULASKI   WOUNDED. 

cess  of  Cornwallis'  movement,  he  changed  his 
position,  crossed  the  Brandywine,  and  attacked 
the  American  entrenchments  at  Chad's  Ford. 
General  Wayne  defended  the  post  with  great 
courage.  But  as  he  had  only  a  single  division  to 
oppose  to  one  half  of  the  British  army,  his 
efforts,  though  very  gallant,  were  unable  to  resist 
the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy. 

General  Green's  division  occupied  a  portion  be- 
tween Wayne's  and  Sullivan's,  where  it  could  send 
assistance  to  either,  as  emergencies  might  require. 
Hence,  when  Sullivan  retreated,  Green  sent  troops 
to  cover  the  retreat.  These  reinforcements,  after 
seizing  a  pass  about  a  mile  from  Dilworth,  at- 
tacked the  enemy,  arrested  their  pursuit  of  Sul- 
livan and  carried  on  for  some  time  a  warm 
engagement.  When  the  firing  here  ceased,  the 
battle  ended  leaving  the  British  in  possession  of 
the  field.  According  to  Marshall,  the  English 
had  in  this  engagement  eighteen  thousand  men, 
and  the  Americans  only  eleven  thousand.  It  was 
in  this  battle  that  two  distinguished  foreigners, 
who  had  espoused  the  American  cause,  were 
wounded ;  the  first  was  Count  Pulaski,  a  coura- 
geous Polander,  whose  bravery  was  such  that  he 
was  soon  after  made  a  Brigadier  General.  The 
other  was  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette.  He  was 
disabled  for  two  months  by  a  wound  in  the  leg, 
and  would  have  been  made  a  prisoner  at  the 
time  he  was  wounded,  if  his  aid-de-camp,  M. 


ATTACK   OJT   GERMANTOW^.  263 

Gemat,  had  not  placed  him  upon  his  horse,  and 
escaped  with  him.  A  line  of  Maryland  soldiers 
were  in  this  battle,  and  shared  the  fortunes  of  the 
day.  The  British  troops  now  pressed  forward, 
and  although  they  met  with  opposition,  it  was  not 
sufficient  to  prevent  them  from  entering  and 
taking  possession  of  Philadelphia.  After  making 
the  necessary  arrangements  to  keep  possession  of 
that  city,  Howe  pushed  forward  as  many  troops 
as  he  could  spare  to  Germantown.  The  posses- 
sion of  Philadelphia  by  the  British  was  a  great 
blow  to  the  Americans,  as  that  was  the  capital 
of  the  country.  It  was  the  design  of  Washington 
to  attempt  its  recapture  so  soon  as  circumstances 
seemed  to  be  favorable.  When,  therefore,  he 
heard  that  several  detachments  of  the  English 
army  had  been  sent  away  from  Germantown  on 
different  expeditions,  and  that  in  this  way  the 
army  there  was  considerably  weakened,  he  con- 
sidered it  an  auspicious  time  to  make  an  attack 
there,  and  so  open  the  way  to  the  capital.  Ac- 
cordingly on  the  evening  of  the  third  of  October, 
he  broke  up  his  camp  and  started  for  German- 
town.  After  marching  fourteen  miles  in  the 
darkness,  he  surprised  the  British  in  the  morning, 
by  showing  himself  before  Germantown.  Sulli- 
van, who  led  the  advance,  accompanied  by 
Washington,  drove  in  the  pickets,  engaged  the 
light  infantry  and  forced  them  from  their  ground. 
The  English  lieutenant,  Colonel  Musgrove,  on  his 


264  HARD   FIGHTING. 

retreat,  took  possession  of  a  strong  stone  house, 
and  as  the  Americans  came  up,  he  ordered  his 
soldiers  to  fire  upon  them  from  the  doors  and 
windows.  In  that  way  he  did  much  execution, 
killing  and  wounding  not  a  few.  Washington 
called  up  a  brigade  and  ordered  them  to  surround 
the  house.  But  the  gallant  •  Musgrove  continued 
to  fight.  Four  pieces  of  -cannon  were  then 
brought  up  and  pointed  against  the  house.  Still 
Musgrove  refused  to  surrender.  He  endured  the 
fire  of  the  cannon  with  great  bravery  and  pa- 
tience, until  Major  General  Gray,  with  the  third 
brigade,  and  Brigadier  General  Agnew,  with  the 
fourth,  presented  themselves  for  his  relief.  These 
attacked  the  Americans  with  great  zeal.  General 
Green  now  arrived  with  his  troops,  and  engaged 
the  right  wing  of  the  British.  A  part  of  this 
wing  were  sent  to  attack  the  Americans  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  town,  while  General  Grant 
was  engaged  in  assisting  Green's  column.  As  it 
was  a  dim,  misty  morning,  rendered  more  gloomy 
by  the  smoke  of  the  battle,  the  Americans  found 
it  difficult  to  discover  the  precise  state  or  location 
of  their  moving  enemy.  Embarrassments  also 
sprang  up  among  themselves,  which  gave  the 
enemy  time  to  recover  from  the  consternation 
into  which  they  were  thrown  by  the  suddenness 
of  the  arrival  of  the  Americans.  Judging  from 
appearances,  it  would  seem  as  if  the  Americans 
ought  to  win  the  day.  Sullivan's  division  has 


WINTER   QUARTERS.  265 

pushed  itself  far  into  the  town.  If  the  other 
divisions  show  similar  spirit,  the  battle  will  be 
ours;  but  instead  of  this  the  main  body  of  the 
army  begins  to  retreat.  Their  officers  endeavor 
in  vain  to  prevent  it,  and  soon  the  whole  army 
follow  their  unfortunate  example,  leaving  two 
hundred  killed,  six  hundred  wounded,  and  four 
hundred  prisoners;  whilst  the  killed  and  wounded 
of  the  British  are  six  hundred.  Many  Maryland 
volunteers  were  engaged  on  this  occasion,  not  a 
few  of  whom  lost  their  lives,  amongst  whom  was 
the  "  patriotic  Cox,"  captain  of  one  of  the  Mary- 
land companies. 

As  the  cold  weather  approached,  Washington 
sought  a  suitable  place  for  his  winter  quarters. 
Not  only  did  he  desire  a  comfortable  position,  but 
one  sufficiently  near  the  enemy  to  have  his  eye 
upon  them,  and  to  keep  them  within  somewhat 
straightened  limits.  After  examining  several 
places,  he  finally  selected  a  deep,  dreary,  but  safe 
valley  or  hollow,  between  the  hills,  about  twenty 
miles  north-west  of  Philadelphia,  and  known  as 
Valley  Forge.  The  soldiers  were  so  miserably 
clad  that  to  oblige  them  to  spend  the  winter 
months  in  canvas  tents  could  not  be  thought  of. 
So  Washington  ordered  a  large  number  of  huts 
to  be  erected,  composed  of  logs  filled  in  with 
mortar  or  clay,  each  sufficiently  large  to  accom- 
modate twelve  men.  This  was  done,  and  the  men 
made  their  home  in  these  extemporized  bar- 


266  PRIVATIONS   AND 

racks.  Now  commenced  one  of  the  most  painful 
experiences  of  the  war.  An  army  of  over  eleven 
thousand  was  there  encamped,  many  of  whom 
were  utterly  without  shoes  or  stockings,  and 
nearly  naked,  obliged  to  sit  up  night  after  night, 
shivering  round  their  miserable  fires  to  keep  them- 
selves from  freezing,  instead  of  going  to  sleep  and 
obtaining  the  repose  which  their  exhausted  na- 
tures required.  Food  also  became  scarce,  and 
famine  stared  them  in  the  face.  When  the  men 
passed  from  hut  to  hut,  or  appeared  on  parade, 
many  of  them  did  it  with  naked,  lacerated  feet, 
which  left  their  blood-marks  in  the  snow.  As  the 
men  had  to  collect  their  own  fuel,  and  as  there 
were  but  a  few  horses  in  the  army,  they  were 
obliged  to  construct  rough  sleds,  yoke  themselves 
to  them,  and  draw  their  wood  from  the  forest 
into  camp.  Others  performed  the  service  of  pack 
horses,  and  carried  heavy  bundles  of  faggots  upon 
their  backs.  Yet,  notwithstanding  all  their  suf- 
ferings, the  army,  as  a  general  thing,  exhibited 
great  patience.  Patriotism  sustained  them.  The 
love  of  self  was  absorbed  in  the  love  of  country. 
General  Washington  in  a  letter  to  Congress  said, 
f<For  some  days  there  has  been  little  less  than 
famine  in  the  camp.  A  part  of  the  army  have 
been  a  week  without  any  kind  of  flesh,  and  the  rest 
three  or  four  days.  Naked  and  starving  as  they 
are,  we  cannot  'enough  admire  the  incomparable 
patience  and  fidelity  of  the  soldiers,  that  they 


SUFFERINGS.  267 

liave  not  been  ere  this  excited  by  their  suffering 
to  a  great  mutiny  and  dispersion.  Strong  symp- 
toms, however,  of  discontent  have  appeared  in 
particular  instances ;  and  nothing  but  the  most 
active  efforts  everywhere  can  long  avert  so 
shocking  a  catastrophe."  A  letter  from  a  com- 
mittee, appointed  by  Congress,  to  Mr.  Laurens, 
president  of  that  body,  says,  "Indeed  nothing 
could  surpass  their  suffering,  except  the  patience 
and  fortitude  with  which  it  was  endured  by  the 
faithful  part  of  the  army."  Unprepared  as  the 
soldiers  were  to  keep  their  thin  matrasses  from 
the  cold,  wet  ground,  they  were  often  obliged  to 
sleep  in  damp,  freezing  beds.  This,  combined 
with  their  miserable  food  and  thin  clothing, 
brought  on  diseases  which  rapidly  thinned  their 
ranks.  Out  of  the  whole  number  of  eleven  thou- 
sand ninety-eight,  when  their  encampment  in 
Valley  Forge  commenced,  two  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  ninety-eight  were  unfit  for  duty. 
Before  the  flowers  of  spring  began  to  shed  their 
fragrance  in  the  valley,  many  of  those  poor  fel- 
lows, with  others  who  were  well  when  they  en- 
tered there,  had  laid  down  to  their  long  last 
*leep.  In  these  privations  and  sufferings  Mary- 
land officers  and  soldiers  endured  their  share. 

In  the  early  part  of  1778  a  legion  of  cavalry 
and  infantry  was  raised,  composed  in  part  of 
soldiers  from  Maryland,  and  placed  under  the 
command  of  Count  Pulaski,  a  distinguished 


COUNT  PULASKI. 

Polaiider,  who  came  to  this  country  after  his  own 
had  lost  its  independence  by  a  coalition  of 
Austria,  Russia  and  Prussia,  who  under  the  guise 
of  protection,  robbed  Poland  of  its  freedom.  In 
February,  1779,  the  gallant  Pulaski,  with  his 
newly  formed  legion,  commenced  his  march  to 
South  Carolina,  for  the  purpose  of  putting  him- 
self under  the  orders  of  General  Lincoln.  He 
reached  Charleston,  May  8,  and  was  surprised 
to  find  the  Governor  and  council  considering 
the  expediency  of  surrendering  the  city  to  the 
British  army.  He  vigorously  opposed  the  project, 
and  it  was  defeated.  The  British,  who  were 
then  in  front  of  the  city,  soon  after  withdrew. 
They  knew  that  General  Lincoln  was  coming  to 
the  relief  of  the  city.  Pulaski  with  his  legion 
pressed  on  to  Savannah.  About  the  same  time 
Count  D'Estaing  arrived  with  a  fleet  of  twenty 
sail  of  the  line,  two  of  fifty  guns,  and  eleven 
frigates.  As  soon  as  Lincoln  heard  of  his  ar- 
rival he  commenced  his  march  towards  Savannah. 
Orders  were  also  sent  out  for  the  militia  of 
Georgia  and  South  Carolina  to  assemble  at  the 
same  place.  Before  the  army  of  Lincoln  ar- 
rived, Count  D'Estaing  demanded  the  surrender 
of  the  town  to  the  arms  of  France.  Prevost, 
the  commanding  officer  of  the  city,  asked,  in 
reply,  for  twenty-four  hours  cessation  of  arms  in 
order  to  prepare  terms.  Unfortunately  his  re- 
quest was  granted,  and  this  gave  time  for  the 


ATTACK    ON    CHARLESTON.  269 

British  Colonel,  Maitland,  to  arrive  with  eight 
hundred  men.  This  timely  increase  of  their  army 
strengthened  and  encouraged  them  so  greatly, 
that  instead  of  preparing  terms  of  surrender,  they 
sent  a  defiant  answer  to  the  Count,  that  they 
would  defend  the  city  to  the  last  extremity.  It 
was  now  decided  to  besiege  the  city.  On  the 
fourth  of  October,  the  batteries  of  the  besiegers 
were  opened  with  nine  mortars,  thirty-seven 
pieces  of  cannon  from  the  land  side  and  fifteen 
from  the  water.  It  being  at  length  ascertained 
that  considerable  time  would  be  necessary  to  re- 
duce the  garrison  by  regular  approaches,  it  was 
determined  to  make  an  assault.  In  pursuance  of 
this  determination,  while  two  feints  were  made 
with  the  militia,  a  real  attack  was  made  on  Spring 
Hill  battery  just  as  daylight  appeared,  with  two 
columns,  consisting  of  thirty-five  hundred  French 
troops,  six  hundred  continentals,  and  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  of  the  inhabitants  of  Charleston. 
The  principal  of  these  columns,  commanded  by 
Count  D'Estaing  and  General  Lincoln,  marched 
boldly  up  to  the  lines;  but  a  heavy  and  well 
directed  fire  from  the  galleys  threw  the  front  of 
the  column  into  confusion.  The  places  of  those 
who  fell  being  instantly  supplied  by  others,  it 
still  moved  on,  until  it  reached  a  redoubt,  where 
the  contest  became  more  fierce  and  desperate. 
Captain  Tawse  fell  in  defending  the  gate  of  his 
redoubt,  with  his  sword  plunged  in  the  body  of 


270  FALL   OP   PTJLASKI. 

the  third  assailant  whom  he  had  slain  with  his  own 
hand,  and  a  French  and  American  standard  was 
for  an  instant  planted  on  the  parapet;  but  the 
assailants,  after  sustaining  the  enemy's  fire  fifty- 
five  minutes,  were  ordered  to  retreat.  Of  the 
French,  six  hundred  and  thirty-seven,  and  of  the 
continentals  and  militia  two  hundred  and  forty- 
one  were  killed  or  wounded.  Immediately  after 
this  unsuccessful  assault,  the  militia  almost  uni- 
versally went  to  their  homes,  and  Count  D'Estaing, 
re-embarking  his  troops  and  artillery,  left  the 
continent.* 

When  the  engagement  was  at  its  height,  the 
brave  Count  Pulaski,  with  two  hundred  light 
horse,  endeavored  to  enter  the  town  so  as  to  at- 
tack the  British  rear.  He  charged  with  great 
speed  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  and  might  have 
succeeded  had  he  not  received  a  fatal  wound. 
When  his  men  saw  him  fall,  they  were  terror- 
stricken,  wheeled  about  and  retreated  in  great 
confusion.  How  many  Mary  landers  were  slain  or 
wounded  in  this  unsuccessful  assault  we  have  no 
means  of  knowing.  But  history  informs  us  that 
they  were  there  and  performed  their  part  on  that 
memorable  day. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1780,  Washington  saw 

that  there  was  a  necessity  of  a  larger  force  in  the 

Carolinas ;    he  therefore  made   arrangements  to 

send  troops  from  Maryland  and  Delaware  there. 

*  Holmes'  American  Annals. 


GATES   APPOINTED    COMMANDER.  271 

He  also  called  out  the  militia  of  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina.  Baron  de  Kalb,  an  eminent 
German  officer,  who  from  the  love  of  liberty  had 
identified  himself  with  the  Americans,  was  placed 
in  command  of  these  forces.  Soon  after  this, 
General  Gates  was  appointed  by  Congress  com- 
mander of  the  whole  southern  army;  then  of 
course  De  Kalb  was  obliged  to  act  under  him. 
Gates'  march  southward  was  so  slow  that  he  did 
not  reach  Camden  in  South  Carolina  until  the  be- 
ginning of  August.  Lord  Rawdon,  the  com- 
mander of  the  British  forces,  had  drawn  his  army 
together  at  that  point.  Cornwallis  at  this  time 
was  at  Charleston.  And  so  soon  as  Rawdon 
heard  of  the  approach  of  the  Americans,  he  sent 
word  to  him,  when  he  immediately  set  out  to 
form  a  union  of  his  forces  with  those  of  Rawdon. 
This  being  accomplished,  Rawdon  determined 
to  commence  operations  against  the  Americans. 
Gates  had  also  purposed  to  move  upon  Rawdon. 
Accordingly,  after  dark,  on  the  fifteenth  of 
August,  both  generals,  with  their  arnies,  moved 
towards  each  other  for  the  purpose  of  an  attack, 
and  both  were  ignorant  of  each  other's  move- 
ments or  design.  They  met  before  daylight,  and 
commenced  the  engagement  in  the  dark.  As 
nothing  effective  could  be  accomplished  without 
light,  they  ceased  firing  and  waited  for  the  morn- 
ing. At  early  daybreak  the  battle  was  renewed. 
The  British  regulars  made  a  terrible  charge,  with 


272        DEATH  OF  BAKON  DE  KALB. 

fixed  bayonets,  upon  the  raw  and  inexperienced 
Virginia  and  Carolina  militia,  and  put  them  to 
flight.  The  Maryland  and  Delaware  troops  ex- 
hibited more  courage,  and  fought  more  bravely. 
Several  times  their  fire  was  so  hot  as  to  compel 
the  British  to  retire,  and  it  seemed  as  if  they 
were  on  the  way  to  victory.  But  after  the  militia 
was  dispersed,  then  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy 
was  concentrated  upon  these  two  corps,  upon 
whom  they  poured  such  a  terrible  shower  of 
balls,  as  to  make  them  waver,  and  when  the 
troops  of  Cornwallis  charged  them  with  fixed 
bayonets,  they  yielded,  and  commenced  to  flee. 
Colonel  Tarlton,  seeing  this,  charged  upon  them 
with  his  calvary,  and  cut  them  up  with  great 
slaughter.  Baron  de  Kalb  exerted  himself  on 
this  occasion  most  heroically  to  prevent  the  loss 
of  victory,  but  after  receiving  eleven  wounds,  he 
died.  As  the  Maryland  forces  were  in  his  corps, 
they  had  a  share  in  the  most  sanguinary  part  of 
the  battle.  The  death  of  Baron  de  Kalb  was 
greatly  regretted  by  the  soldiers  and  by  the 
country  generally.  The  American  Congress  or- 
dered a  monument  to  be  erected  to  his  memory 
in  the  city  of  Annapolis.  This  was  done,  and  the 
Marquis  de  Lafayette  laid  the  corner  stone.  The 
following  is  its  inscription :  — 


MONUMENT    TO    BARON   DE    KALB.  273 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
THE  BARON  DE  KALB, 

Knight  of  the  royal  order  of  merit, 
Brigadier  of  the  armies  of  France, 

and 
Major  general  in  the  service  of  the  United  States 

of  America. 
Having  served  with  honor  and  reputation  for 

three  years, 

He  gave  a  last  and  glorious  proof  of  his 
attachment  to  the  liberties  of  mankind 

and  the  cause  of  America, 
In  the  action  near  Camden,  in  the  state  of 

South  Carolina, 

On  the  16th  of  August,  1780, 

Where,  leading  on  the  troops  of  the  Maryland  and 

Delaware  lines  against  superior  numbers, 
and  animating  them  by  his  example  to  deeds 

of  valor, 

He  was  pierced  with  many  wounds,  and 
on  the  19th  following  expired  in  the  48th  year 

of  his  age. 

The  Congress  of  the  United  States  of  America, 

In  gratitude  to  his  zeal,  services  and  merit, 

Have  erected  this  monument. 

Bancroft  Librai 

Another  engagement  in  which  the  Maryland 

soldiers  fought  with  bravery  and  honor  is  called 

the  battle  of  the  Cowpens.     At  first  the  tide  of 

the  battle  was  against  the  Americans,  and  the 

18 


274  BATTLE    OF    THE    COWPENS. 

British,  supposing  that  the  day  was  theirs,  pressed 
on  after  the  retreating  foe  with  speed  and  some 
disorder.  When  the  Americans  halted  they  were 
not  more  than  twenty  yards  from  their  pursuers. 
Colonel  Howard  then  gave  the  order  for  them  to 
turn  and  face  the  enemy.  They  did  so  instantly, 
and  poured  at  once  into  their  whole  line  a  volley 
of  balls.  This  unexpected  warm  reception  threw 
them  into  great  confusion.  When  Howard  saw 
this,  he  perceived  that  it  gave  a  favorable  oppor- 
tunity for  another  demonstration,  so  he  imme- 
diately ordered  his  regiment  to  charge  with  the 
bayonet.  So  soon  as  the  British  saw  the  flashing 
steel  points  coming  to  them  with  such  speed,  they 
were  terrified,  and  fled  from  the  field.  Howard 
and  Washington  pressed  after  them  until  they 
captured  the  artillery  and  a  great  part  of  the  in- 
fantry. It  was  a  decisive  victory,  and  cost  the 
Americans  less  than  eighty  men  in  killed  and 
wounded.  Marshall  says,  "  Seldom  has  a  battle 
in  which  greater  numbers  were  not  engaged,  been 
so  important  in  its  consequences  as  that  of  the 
Cowpens.  By  it  Lord  Conwallis  was  not  only 
deprived  of  a  fifth  of  his  numbers,  but  lost,  so  far 
as  respected  his  infantry,  that  active  part  of  his 
army,  which,  in  the  species  of  war  about  to  be  en- 
tered on,  is  most  useful  to  those  who  possess  it, 
and  most  terrible  to  an  enemy.  Had  the  issue  of 
the  engagement  been  such  as  was  to  have  been 
expected  from  the  relative  strength  of  the  two 


BATTLE    OF   EUTAW    SPRINGS.  275 

detachments,  and  Morgan's  corps,  like  that  of 
Buford,  been  cut  to  pieces,  it  is  impossible  to  say 
what  consequences  would  have  resulted  to  the 
Southern  States." 

The  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs  was  another  of 
the  most  important  fought  on  Southern  soil.  On 
the  morning  of  the  eighth  of  September,  the  en- 
gagement was  opened  in  a  woods,  where  the  two 
advance  parties  had  met.  The  Americans 
poured  in  their  shot  so  fast  that  the  British  began 
to  give  way.  Now  the  cavalry  dashed  upon  their 
rear,  driving  before  them  the  British  horsemen 
and  foragers  and  scattering  the  infantry  like  leaves 
before  the  wind.  After  these  were  dispersed, 
another  corps  of  the  British  were  met,  and  the 
battle  was  renewed.  The  artillery  of  both  armies 
was  now  brought  into  action,  and  whilst  the  op- 
ponents of  each  were  falling  beneath  each  other's 
fire,  both  armies  got  themselves  into  full  battle 
array,  and  then  the  fighting  became  general. 
One  corps  followed  another  into  action,  until 
nearly  the  whole  of  both  armies  were  engaged. 
A  portion  of  the  American  militia,  being  in  ad- 
vance of  the  other  troops,  drew  upon  themselves 
two  regiments  from  the  British  center,  who,  after 
a  short,  sharp  struggle,  compelled  them  to  retreat. 
Then  they  rushed  on  to  the  American  left  flank, 
flushed  with  enthusiasm  at  their  recent  success, 
but  the  force  which  was  stationed  here  under 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Henderson  received  the  shock, 


276  FURIOUS  FIGHTING. 

as  the  rock-bound  coast  receives  the  shock  of  the 
foam-crested  billows ;  and  as  the  rocks  roll  back 
the  waves,  so  did  Henderson's  troops  roll  back 
their  flushed  and  hopeful  enemies.  They  poured 
into  them  volleys  of  iron  hail  with  such  rapidity 
and  deadly  effect  as  prevented  further  advance, 
and  restored  the  battle,  which  had  previously 
seemed  to  be  going  in  favor  of  the  ^British.  En- 
couraged by  this  heroic  and  successful  conduct 
of  Henderson's  brave  boys,  General  Green  ordered 
up  the  center  of  the  second  line,  which  was  under 
the  command  of  General  Sumter,  and  directed  it 
to  move  into  the  chasm  which  was  made  by  the 
retiring  militia.  At  the  word  of  command,"  on 
came  the  center  with  loud  huzzas.  The  battle 
now  became  fiercer  and  bloodier  than  before. 
Men  were  falling,  killed  or  wounded,  at  every 
volley.  Such  destruction  could  not  continue 
long.  In  a  short  time  the  British  at  this  point 
were  driven  back  to  their  old  position.  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  Stewart,  the  English  commander,  now 
hurried  up  the  infantry,  which  were  waiting  in- 
actively in  the  rear  of  his  left  wing.  These  fresh 
forces  increased  the  fury  of  the  fight.  "The  con- 
flict was  then  terrible.  Regiments  were  sweeping 
along  under  galling  fires ;  the  hot  sun  was  beam- 
ing and  dancing  over  thousand  of  bayonets,  and 
helmets  and  sabres;  cavalry  were  thundering 
from  rank  to  rank,  the  sheaths  of  the  dragoons 
ringing  across  the  field,  while  the  ground,  air,  and 


GREAT    SLAUGHTER.  277 

woods  rocked  with  the  rushings  of  angry  thou- 
sands, the  rattling  of  musketry,  the  loud  roaring 
of  cannon.  The  plumes  of  officers  were  leaping 
here  and  there  between  the  volumes  of  smoke; 
charge  after  charge  was  crushing  scores  to  the 
earth ;  and  the  love  of  life,  the  strong  universal 
tie,  was  suspended  in  the  whirlings  of  passion." 
General  Green,  observing  how  close  was  the  en- 
gagement, and  that  a  trifle  more  weight  on  either 
Bide  would  determine  the  victory,  determined 
upon  a  sharp,  quick,  decisive  movement.  He  or- 
dered the  Maryland  and  Virginia  troops  to  the 
front.  They  responded  to  the  order  with  loud, 
enthusiastic  shouts.  They  had  been  listening  in- 
actively to  the  firing  of  others  long  enough. 
They  were  burning  for  an  opportunity  to  render 
some  service  in  securing  the  fortunes  of  the  day 
themselves.  They  opened  fire  upon  the  enemy 
like  the  blast  of  a  volcano.  Hundreds  fell  before 
them.  Whole  companies  were  so  thinned  by 
their  bloody  execution  as  to  be  reduced  to  mere 
skeletons.  The  British  line  began  to  waver, 
when  Major  Majoribanks,  seeing  the  peril,  brought 
up  his  battalion  of  grenadiers,  ordered  them  into 
action,  and  thereby  strengthened  the  line  and  pre- 
vented it  from  being  put  to  flight.  But  Green 
being  determined  on  victory,  called  up  one  of  his 
regiments  and  directed  it  to  attack  Majoribanks; 
and  then  galloping  rapidly  along  the  lines,  he  or- 
dered them  to  charge.  Instantly  the  firing  on 


278  AMERICAN    TRIUMPH. 

the  side  of  the  Americans  ceased,  the  bayonets 
were  fixed,  and  the  whole  line  moved  forward  to 
the  charge.  Terrible  volleys  aimed  at  their  faces 
were  poured  into  them.  Many  fell  at  every  fire. 
Still  they  faltered  not,  but  pressing  on,  gained 
every  moment  increased  nearness  to  the  foe. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Lee  now  observed  that  the 
American  line  was  longer  than  that  of  the 
enemy,  that  one  end  was  beyond  their  flank.  He 
ordered  a  company  to  turn  that  flank.  This 
being  done,  the  enemy  were  attacked  in  front  and 
rear  —  in  front  by  the  bayonet,  on  flank  by  mus- 
ketry. Cold  steele  on  one  side  of  them,  and  hot 
shot  on  the  other,  they  could  not  stand.  Their 
line  was  soon  broken,  and  then  they  fled  in  every 
direction,  leaving  their  camp  a  prize  to  the  Amer- 
icans. But  though  they  gained  the  day,  there 
were  two  unfortunate  events  which  prevented 
the  victory  from  being  as  full  and  complete  as  it 
otherwise  would  have  been.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Washington,  who  had  been  ordered  to  oppose 
Majoribanks  at  the  time  he  came  into  action,  be- 
came with  his  regiment  involved  in  a  marsh 
where  he  could  move  neither  one  way  nor  an- 
other. As  this  marsh  was  near  the  route  taken  by 
the  British,  he  was  exposed  to  the  fire  of  their 
retreating  forces.  Many  of  his  officers  and  men 
were  killed,  his  horse  was  shot  under  him,  and 
himself  taken  prisoner,  after  being  wounded  by  a 
bayonet.  One  half  of  his  troops  were  destroyed. 


LEE    RETREATS.  279 

Another  sad  event  was  that  when  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Lee  had  possession  of  all  the  roads  which 
commanded  the  retreat  of  the  British,  a  corps  that 
ought  to  have  sustained  him  failed  to  come  up, 
and  when  it  was  sent  for  could  not  be  found.  If 
it  had  made  its  appearance,  much  more  injury 
would  have  been  inflicted  upon  the  enemy,  and 
probably  some  regiments  would  have  been  taken 
prisoners.  But  in  consequence  of  the  failure  of 
this  corps  to  show  itself,  Lee  was  obliged  to  re- 
treat, and  sacrifice  the  splendid  advantage  which 
he  had  gained.  This  gave  the  English  Colonel 
Stewart  opportunity  to  restore  his  broken  line 
and  renew  the  conflict.  By  this  movement  he  re- 
gained his  captured  camp,  and  took  two  Ameri- 
can cannon.  If  Colonel  Washington  had  not 
been  entangled  in  the  swamp,  and  had  the  last 
corps  come  up  at  the  proper  time,  it  would  have 
been  an  undisputed  American  Victory.  But  as  it 
was,  both  parties  claimed  the  day,  though  the  ad- 
vantages were  entirely  on  the  side  of  the  Ameri- 
cans. The  losses  on  both  sides  were  unusually 
great.  One-fifth  of  the  British  and  one-fourth 
of  the  Americans  were  killed  and  wounded. 
The  enemy  made  sixty  prisoners,  all  wounded, 
and  the  Americans  about  five  hundred.  Such 
was  the  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs,  and  in  it  the 
Maryland  troops  bore  an  honorable  share. 

The  war  between  Great  Britaiu  and  the  colo- 
nies was  continued   seven  years,  when  England 


280  AMERICAN   INDEPENDENCE. 

saw  the  hopelessness  of  subduing  them,  and  then 
acknowledged  their  independence.  From  the 
first,  Maryland  took  a  decided  position  in  favor 
of  the  colonies,  and  firmly  maintained  it  to  the 
last. 


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and  is  supplemented  by  a  very  full  index. —  Woman's  Jour- 
nal, Boston. 

The  book  is  thoroughly  good ;  none  better  could  be 
placed  in  the  hands  of  young  persons.  By  the  light  of 
these  they  can  see  the  reflection  of  the  character  of  the 
grand  men  who  have  been  called  to  rule  over  the  Nation 
during  its  existence.  No  other  nation  ever  had  such  a 
succsssion  of  rulers,  where  so  few  have  proved  failures.—- 
Inter  Oceav,  Chicago.  ' 


BOOK    NOTICES. 

Walks  to  Emmaus.  By  the  late  Rev.  Nehemiah  Adams 
Z>.  D.  Edited  by  his  son,  Rev.  William  H.  Adams.  Firs*- 
series.  January-February.  Boston:  D.  Lothrop  &  Co. 
12mo.  pp360.  Price,  $1.00. 

"  This  is  the  first  volume  of  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
promising  homiletical  works  of  the  age.  It  will  embrace 
two  sermons  for  every  Sabbath  of  an  entire  year.  It  is  "  a 
Christian  year,"  yet  not  confined  to  the  liturgy  of  any  single 
denomination  of  Christians,  but  aiming  to  include  within 
this  compass  one  discourse  on  each  topic  of  ordinary  paste- 
rial  use,  or  the  needs  of  the  religious  reader.  It  is  adapted 
for  the  vacant  pulpit,  the  sick  room,  and  the  private  library. 

It  is  agreed  that  no  modern  writer  is  better  suited  to  all 
classes  and  capacities  than  Dr.  Adams.  Encomiums  of  his 

extensively  circulated  religious  publications,  "  The  Friends  of 
Christ,"  "  Christ  a  Friend,"  "  Communion  Sabbath,"  "  Cath- 
arine," "At  Eventide,"  &c.,  &c.  Have  justified  this  selec 
tion  of  more  than  a  hundred  and  twenty  sermons  from  the 
forty  years'  ministry  of  Rev.  Dr.  Adams,  with  the  hope  o\ 
their  wide  circulation  among  all  religious  denominations. 
Each  of  the  six  volumes  now  in  preparation,  to  be  issued 
every  year  or  two,  will  be  complete  in  itself  although  form- 
ing a  part  of  this  work  designed  as  "one  years  discourses." 
For,  one  of  the  "fifth  sabbath  sermons"  may  be  employed 
instead  of  one  for  a  special  occasion,  for  example  "a  new 
year's  discourse."  Every  evangelical  minister,  theological 
student,  and  household  should  possess  this  crowning  work  of 
an  eminent  divine,  and  standard  religious  writer.  The 
volume  is  tastefully  printed  and  bound." 


NEW  PUBLICATIONS. 


YENSIE  WALTON'S  WOMANHOOD.  By  Mrs.  S.  R.  Graham 
Clark.  Boston:  D.  Lothrop  &  Co.  Price  $1.50.  Nine  out 
of  ten  Sunday-school  scholars  have  read  Yensie  Walton,  one 
of  the  best  and  most  interesting  books  that  ever  went  into  a 
Sunday-school  library.  The  present  volume  introduces 
Yensie  in  a  new  home  and  under  new  conditions.  She 
enters  the  family  of  a  friend  as  an  instructor  of  the  younger 
members,  and  the  narrative  of  her  experiences  will  especially 
interest  those  who  have  to  do  with  the  moral  and  mental 
training  of  children.  The  author  shows  that  all  children 
are  not  made  after  the  same  pattern,  and  that  one  line  of 
treatment  is  not  of  universal  application.  In  one  of  her 
pupils,  a  boy  of  brilliant  mental  endowments,  whose  mind 
has  become  embittered  because  of  a  physical  deformity, 
Yensie  finds  much  to  interest  as  well  as  to  discourage  her. 
She  perseveres,  however,  and  by  studying  his  character 
carefully  and  working  upon  him  from  the  right  side,  she 
gradually  works  a  change  in  his  disposition  and  brings  his 
better  qualities  into  active  exercise.  This  is  scarcely  accom- 
plished when  a  call  from  Valley  Farm  reaches  her.  Ever 
prompt  to  do  duty's  bidding,  Yensie  quits  this  happy  home 
for  the  sterner  requirements  of  her  uncle's  family,  where 
she  lauored  with  unflagging  interest  and  determination  until 
that  iir.ich-loved  relative  says  his  last  good-by.  It  is  then 
that  the  hitherto  silenced  wooer  refuses  to  be  longer  quiet, 
ami  our  heroine  goes  out  from  the  old  red  farm-house  to  her 
wedded  home,  where  as  a  wife  and  mother  she  makes  duty 
paramount  to  pleasure,  and  every  circumstance  of  life  is 
met  with  that  same  fortitude  characteristic  of  the  Yensie 
Walton  you  so  much  admire.  Besides  the  characters  with 
which  the  reader  is  already  familiar  through  .the  former 
work,  others  are  introduced  which  are  equally  well  drawn, 
and  which  serve  to  round  out  the  story  to  completeness. 

THE  MOTHER'S  RECORD  OF  THE  MENTAL,  MORAL  AND 
PHYSICAL  LIFE  OF  HER  CHILD.  Boston  :  D.  Lothrop  &  Co. 
Quarto,  $1.00.  This  work  is  valuable  as  it  is  unique.  It  is 
prepared  by  a  Massachusetts  woman,  and  though  originally 
intended  for  her  own  benefit,  has  been  published  for  the 
help  of  mothers  everywhere.  It  is  intended  for  a  yearly 
chronicle  of  the  child's  growth  and  development,  menial 
and  physical,  and  will  be  an  important  aid  to  mothers  \vho 
devote  themselves  to  conscientious  training  of  their  little 
ones. 


NEW  PUBLICATIONS. 


ORIGINALITY.  By  EVias  Nason.  Boston:  D.  Lothrop  & 
Co.  Price  $.50.  Mr.  Nason  has  here  made  a  reply  to 
Wendell  Phillips'  ''Lost  Arts,"  which  is  well  worth  read- 
ing for  its  point  and  suggestiveness.  He  endeavors  to  show 
the  meaning  of  the  word,  and  what  important  results  have 
come  from  the  originating  powers  of  a  few  bright  men  since 
the  beginning  of  civilization.  He  takes  up,  one  by  one,  the 
points  made  by  Mr.  Phillips  in  his  famous  lecture,  and  shows 
on  what  slight  grounds  they  rest,  and  of  how  little  weight 
they  really  are  when  examined  and  analyzed.  Mr.  Nason 
does  not  believe  that  any  of  the  useful  arts  have  been  lost. 
The  ancients  had  few  to  lose.  They  made  glass,  but  they 
did  not  know  how  to  use  it.  They  could  embalm  dead 
bodies;  but  of  what  use  were  embalmed  dead  bodies  ?  They 
Lad  some  knowledge  of  mathematics,  but  a  school-boy's 
arithmetic  to-day  contains  more  mathematical  knowledge 
than  has  come  out  of  all  the  exhumed  cities  of  the  Orient. 
There  were  more  marvels  of  art  displayed  at  the  Centennial 
exhihition  than  in  the  ancient  world  for  twenty  centuries. 
Mr.  Nason  insists  that  the  aesthetica!  productions  of  the. 
ancients  have  been  vastly  over-estimated.  The  periods  of 
Demosthenes,"  he  says,  "yield  in  Titanic  force  to  the 
double-compact  sentences  of  Daniel  Webster.  Mr.  Phillips 
himself  has  sometimes  spoken  more  eloquently  than  Cicero. 
Homer  never  rises  to  the  sublimity  of  John  Milton."  The 
world  grows  wiser  and  better.  Age  hy  age,  it  has  been  de- 
veloping its  resources  and  adding  pearl  to  pearl  to  the  diadem 
of  its  wisdom ;  sometimes  slower,  sometimes  quicker,  hut 
always  upward  and  onward.  Mr.  Nason  writes  in  a  fresh 
and  sparkling  style,  and  the  thousands  who  have  listened 
with  rapt  attention  to  Mr.  Phillips'  eloquent  presentation  of 
his  side  of  the  question  will  find  equal  pleasure  and  greater 
profit  in  reading  this  charming  essay,  which  is  equally  elo- 
quent and  unquestionably  sounder  in  its  conclusions. 

THE  LIFE  AND  WRITINGS  OF  CHARLES  DICKENS.  By 
Phebe  A.  Hanaford.  Boston:  D.  Lothrop  &  Co.  Price 
$1.50.  A  life  of  Dickens,  written  by  a  popular  author 
and  upon  a  new  plan,  will  be  sure  to  meet  with  favor  at  the 
hands  of  the  public.  Mrs.  Hanaford  has  not  attempted  to 
write  a  critical  and  original  analysis  of  the  great  author 
from  her  own  point  of  view,  but,  while  sketching  the  main 
incidents  of  his  life,  has  quoted  liberally  from  his  works  to 
illustrate  his  genius,  and  from  the  correspondence  and 
writings  of  Ilia  personal  friends  to  show  the  estimation  in 
which  lie  was  held  by  them  as  a  man,  a  philanthropist  and 
a  Christian.  The  volume  commends  itself  to  every  lover  of 
Dickens,  and  deserves  to  be  widely  known  and  read. 


NEW  PUBLICATIONS. 


TIIK     LOIII/S    PuusEBEAKEiis.      By    IJesba    Stretton. 
Boston.   D.    Lothrop  &   Co.     Price   $1.25.     The   name   of 
Ilesba  Stretton   is   too-  well   known   in   English   literature 
to  render  it  necessary  to  make  special   commendation  of 
any   work  from   her  pen.     No  writer  of  religious  fiction 
stands  higher  in  England,  and  there  is  not  a  Sunday-school 
library  where  some  one  of  her  volumes  may  not  be  found. 
She  has  the  faculty  of  entertaining  and  instructing  at  the 
same  time.      The    present    publishers    have  made  special 
arrangements  with  her  for  the  production  in  this  country 
of  her  latest  work,  and  the  probabilities  are  that  all   her 
future    books  will    bear    their  imprint.      In    The    Lord's 
Pursebearers  the  author  draws  a  terrible  picture  of  life 
among    the  vicious    poor  in    London  streets,   and    shows 
by   what    shifts  the  professional    beggars   and    thieves   of 
the  great  Babylon  manage  to  live  and  thrive  on  the  mis- 
placed   charity  of  the  pitying  well-to-do  population.     She 
arouses  a  strong  feeling  of  sympathy  for  the  children  who 
are   bred   in   the  haunts  of  vice,  and   who  are  instructed 
in  crime  before  they  are  old  enough  to  know  the  meaning 
of  the   word.     The  story  is  one  of  intense  interest,  and 
the  characters,  especially  those  of  old  Isaac  Chippendell, 
his  granddaughter    Joan,   and    little    Lucky,    are  forcibly 
drawn.      One  can    hardly  believe  that    such  places  exist 
or  that  such  deeds   are  perpetrated  as  are  here  described, 
but  one  who  is  familiar  with  London  and  its  streets  knows 
that  they  are  no  exaggerations.     The  volume  is  illustrated. 


THE  AFTERGLOW  OF  EUROPEAN  TRAVEL.  By  Adelaide 
L.  Harrington.  Boston:  D.  Lothrop  &  Co.  Price  $1.50. 
This  pleasant  record  of  experiences  abroad  will  delight  those 
who  have  gone  over  the  same  ground,  as  well  as  those  who 
have  never  strayed  beyond  the  bounds  of  their  own  country. 
It  is  not  a  connected  story  of  travel,  but  consists  of  reminis- 
cences and  descriptions  of  various  spots  and  objects  which 
made  the  deepest  aiid  most  lasting  impression  upon  the 
writer. 


LINKS  IN  REBECCA'S  LIFE.  By  "Pansy."  Price,  $1.50. 
Boston:  D.  Lotbrop  &  Co. 

"Pansy"  has  no  rival  as  an  author  of  the  best  class  of 
Sunday-school  books.  Her  "Ester  Eied"  and  "Chautauqua 
Girls"  series  are  models  in  that  important  line  of  literature. 
Her  new  book,  "  Links  in  Rebecca's  Life,"  is  worthy  of  a 
place  in  the  same  list.  This  book  is  an  admirable  one.  Its 
tone  is  healthy  and  stimulating,  without  a  trace  of  senti- 
mentalism  or  cant:  and  its  characters  are  thoroughly  natu- 
ral, such  as  any  reader  can  recognize  in  the  community  in. 
which  be  happens  to  live.  The  heroine,  Rebecca,  is  intense- 
ly human,  with  a  noble  nature  in  which  many  weaknesses 
hide  themselves  and  come  often  to  the  surface.  But  she  is 
a  Christian  of  the  best  type,  and  her  aspirations  and  hard- 
fought  battles  inspire  enthusiasm  in  a  reader.  The  Com- 
mittee on  International  Lessons  couldn't  do  a  better  thing 
than  to  circulate  this  book  in  every  part  of  the  land.  It 
shows  how  the  lessons  may  be  made  helpful  in  the  daily 
life,  and  how  the  Old  Testament  may  be  taught  with  in- 
terest to  an  Infant  School,  or  to  men  and  women  of  every 
congregation. 

ECHOING  AND  RE-ECHOING.  By  Faye  Huntington.  Price 
$1.50.  Boston:  D.  Lothrop  &  Co.,  publishers. 

It  shows  great  ignorance  of  the  Sunday-school  literature 
of  our  day,  when  one  calls  it  weak  and  n  am  by-stuff,  with  an 
equal  mixture  of  love-stories,  and  impossible  adventures. 
The  censure  is  just  for  a  certain  class  of  books,  but  a  large 
library  may  be  gathered  of  first-class  works  admirable  alike 
in  moral  tone  and  in  literary  execution,  books  which  every- 
body can  read  with  delight  and  profit.  "Echoing  and  Re- 
echoing" is  a  book  of  this  sort,  a  well-told  story,  abounding 
with  practical  lessons,  and  inciting  to  a  noble  Christian  life. 
The  most  intelligent  opponent  of  religious  novels  will  find 
his  prejudices  giving  way  in  reading  it,  and  a  fastidious  lit- 
erary reader  will  be  thankful  that  children  have  such  good 
books  for  moulding  their  literary  tastes. 


"PANSY"  BOOKS. 


Probably  no  living  author  has  exerted  an  influence  upon  the 
American  people  at  large,  at  all  comparable  with  Pansy's.  Thou- 
sands upon  thousands  of  families  read  her  books  every  week,  and 
the  effect  in  the  direction  of  right  feeling,  right  thinking,  and 
right  living  is  incalculable. 

Each  volume  12mo.  Cloth.  Price,  $1.50. 
FOUR  GIRLS  AT  CHAUTAUQUA.  MODERN  PROPHETS. 
CMAUTAUQUA  GIRLS  AT  HOME.  ECHOING  AND  RE-ECHOING. 


RUTH  ERSKINE'S  CROSSES. 
ESTER  RIED. 
JULIA  RIED. 
KING'S  DAUGHTER. 
WISE  AND  OTHERWISE. 
ESTER  RIED  ' '  YET  SPEAKING. 
LINKS  IN  REBECCA'S  LIFE. 
FROM  DIFFERENT  STAND- 
THREE  PEOPLE.  [POINTS.  THE  HALL  IN  THE  GROVE. 
HOUSEHOLD  PUZZLES.  MAN  OF  THE  HOUSE. 
AN  ENDLESS  CHAIN. 

Each  volume  12mo.     Cloth.     Price,  $1.25. 
CUNNING  WORKMEN. 
GRANDPA'S  DARLING. 
MRS.  DEAN'S  WAY. 
DR.  DEAN'S  WAY. 

Each  volume  16mo. 
NEXT  THINGS. 
PANSY  SCRAP  BOOK. 
FIVE  FRIENDS. 

SOME  YOUNG  HEROINES. 

Each  volume  16mo.     Cloth.     Price,  $.75. 
GETTING  AHEAD.  JESSIE  WELLS. 

Two  BOYS.  DOCIA'S  JOURNAL. 

Six  LITTLE  GIRLS.  HELEN  LESTER. 

PANSIES.  BERNIE'S  WHITE  CHICKEN. 

THAT  BOY  BOB.  MARY  BURTON  ABROAD. 

SIDE  BY  SIDE.    Price,  $.60. 

The  Little  Pansy  Series,  10  vols.    Boards,  $3.00.  Cloth,  $4.00. 

Mother's  Boys  and  Girls'  Library,  12  vols.    Quarto  Boards,  $3.00. 

Pansy  Primary  Library,  30  vol.     Cloth.     Price,  $7.50. 

Half  Hour  Library.    Octavo,  8  vols.    Price,  $3.20. 


THOSE  BOYS. 

THE  RANDOLPHS. 

TIP  LEWIS. 

SIDNEY  MARTIN'S  CHRISTMAS. 

DIVERS  WOMEN. 

A  NEW  GRAFT. 

THE  POCKET  MEASURE. 

MRS.  SOLOMON  SMITH. 


Miss  PRISCILLA  HUNTER  and 
MY  DAUGHTER  SUSAN. 

WHAT  SHE  SAID  and 
PEOPLE  WHO  HAVEN'T  TIME. 

Cloth.     Price,  $1.00. 

MRS.  HARRY  HARPER'S 
AWAKENING. 

NEW  YEAR'S  TANGLES. 


CHEERFUL  WOKDS.* 

In  the  whole  range  of  English  literature  we  can  call  to 
mind  the  works  of  no  single  author  to  which  the  title, 
''Cheerful  Words,"  can  more  properly  apply  than  to  those  of 
George  Macclonald.  It  exactly  expresses  the  element  which 
permeates  everything  from  his  pen,  whether  sermon,  essay, 
story  or  poem  —  an  element  which  strengthens  while  it 
cheers,  which  instills  new  light  and  life  into  the  doubting  or 
discouraged  soul,  and  incites  i'j  to  fresh  effort. 

In  the  volume  before  us  the  editor  has  brought  together, 
with  a  careful  and  judicious  hand,  some  of  the  choicest  pas- 
sages from  Macclonald's  works,  written  in  various  keys  and 
upon  various  subjects,  but  all  marked  by  healthy  sentiment 
and  sunshiny  feeling.  In  quoting  what  a  late  critic  has  said 
of  the  "electrical  consciousness"  which  characterizes  his 
writings,  the  editor  remarks :  "The  breadth  and  manliness 
of  tone  and  sentiment,  the  deep  perceptions  of  human 
nature,  the  originality,  fancy  and  pathos,  the  fresh,  out-of- 
door  atmosphere  everywhere  apparent;  above  all,  the  earnest, 
wholesome,  but  always  unobtrusive  religious  teaching  that 
underlies  all  his  writings,  give  to  the  works  of  George  Mac- 
donald  a  certain  magnetic  power  that  is  indescribable." 
And  in  the  selections  here  made  that  power  is  singularly  ap- 
parent. By  turns  they  touch  the  heart,  fire  the  imagination, 
moisten  the  eyes,  arouse  the  sympathies,  and  bring  into 
active  exercise  the  better  feelings  and  instincts  of  mind  and 
heart. 

The  introduction  to  the  volume  is  from  the  pen  of  James 
T.  Fields,  a  persona/  friend  and  ardent  admirer  of  the  au- 
thor. He  regards  Macdonald  as  a  master  of  his  art,  and 
believes  in  holding  up  for  admiration  those  like  him,  who 
have  borne  witness  to  the  eternal  beauty  and  cheerful  capa- 
bilities of  the  universe  around  us,  and  who  are  lovingly 
reminding  us,  whenever  they  write,  of  the  "  holiness  of  help^ 
fulness." 

*  Cheerful  Words.  By  George  Macdonald.  Introduction  by  James  T. 
Fields,  and  Biography  by  Emma  E.  Brown.  Spare  Minute  Series.  Boston? 
D.  Lothrop  &  Co.  Price  $1.00. 


